City comparison
Oklahoma City, OK vs St. Louis, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in St. Louis, MO are 5.2% higher than in Oklahoma City, OK. Someone earning $100,000 in Oklahoma City, OK would need about $105,200 in St. Louis, MO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,017 a month in Oklahoma City, OK and $995 in St. Louis, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,955 a year in OK and $3,763 in MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.5% moving from Oklahoma City, OK to St. Louis, MO ($106,437 → $109,137), while prices change by +5.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Oklahoma City, OK: price level 90.4 (much cheaper)
- St. Louis, MO: price level 95.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Oklahoma City, OK | St. Louis, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.4 | 95.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,177 in St. Louis | $95,078 in Oklahoma City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,017/mo | $995/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,226 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,955 (OK) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,230 | $49,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL |
Rent areas: Oklahoma City, OK HUD Metro FMR Area and St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Oklahoma City, OK and St. Louis, MO-IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Oklahoma City | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.9 | 79.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 100.0 |
| Utilities | 74.1 | 69.9 |
| Other services | 95.5 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 90.4 | 95.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Oklahoma City, OK → St. Louis, MO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$192/yr.
53 Fair offer
St. Louis, MO → Oklahoma City, OK
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.2%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$192/yr.
85 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Oklahoma City, OK is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; St. Louis, MO is in St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL. The last column shows what a transfer from Oklahoma City, OK to St. Louis, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Oklahoma City, OK | St. Louis, MO | Real change, Oklahoma City → St. Louis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,288 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,573 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,779 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $109,137 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,967 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Oklahoma City, OK | St. Louis, MO | St. Louis pay in Oklahoma City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,780 | $60,650 | $57,665 (+18.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,390 | $129,030 | $122,679 (+0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,280 | $78,880 | $74,998 (−3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,920 | $83,180 | $79,086 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.