St. Louis vs Orlando: cost of living compared
Orlando is 19% more expensive than St. Louis overall. Orlando (FL) has no state income tax; MO tops out around 4.95%.
Indexes use a US average of 100: below 100 is cheaper than the national average. Housing and transportation are derived from median home prices, rents and commute times; figures come from BLS, Census ACS, Numbeo and the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
The big picture
St. Louis offers a noticeably lower overall cost of living compared to Orlando. The primary factor contributing to this difference is housing, which is substantially more affordable in St. Louis. While other categories also show variations, the significant gap in housing costs creates the most impactful difference on a household's budget when comparing these two metropolitan areas.
Housing
Housing costs, both for buying and renting, are considerably higher in Orlando than in St. Louis. Homeownership in Florida also comes with unique considerations, such as potentially higher homeowners insurance premiums, the possibility of flood insurance, and property taxes that reset to market value upon sale. Many newer communities in Orlando also feature additional fees for community amenities.
Taxes and everyday costs
Daily expenses for transportation, food, healthcare, and utilities are generally higher in Orlando. A key financial difference is Florida's lack of a state income tax, which can offset some of Orlando's higher everyday costs compared to Missouri's state income tax. However, the overall spending on these categories remains more elevated in the Florida metro.
Lifestyle trade-offs
Orlando offers a subtropical climate with warm temperatures and a distinct hurricane season, while St. Louis experiences four distinct seasons. Getting around in both metros primarily relies on personal vehicles, with similar average commute times. Orlando tends to have more modern, planned communities, whereas St. Louis features a mix of historic and newer housing stock.
Bottom line
Moving from St. Louis to Orlando would generally mean a significant increase in overall expenses, primarily driven by housing. While the absence of state income tax in Florida offers some relief, it typically does not fully compensate for the higher costs across most other categories, including everyday necessities and homeownership-related expenses like insurance and property taxes.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living (US avg = 100) | 88 | 105 |
| Housing index | 64 | 104 |
| Transportation index | 95 | 104 |
| Food index | 92 | 98 |
| Healthcare index | 95 | 98 |
| Utilities index | 95 | 108 |
| Misc index | 88 | 92 |
| Median home price | $218,000 | $358,000 |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $1,050/mo | $1,650/mo |
| Average commute | 27 min | 29 min |
Compare any two metros with the free cost of living tool, or see the true monthly cost of a specific Orlando home with the True Cost Calculator.