Uprootmap
Champaign vs St. Louis
Champaign and St. Louis
Photo: PCN02WPS / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in St. Louis are above the US rate in this release, 15.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Champaign to St. Louis
In 2022-2023, 100 households filed a move from Champaign to St. Louis (about 151 people, average adjusted gross income $78,990). 68 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $897 in Champaign and $1,138 in St. Louis. Champaign has a state tax on wages. St. Louis has a state tax on wages. Local pay in St. Louis is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 87% in Champaign.
St. Louis averages 202 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 22°F. Champaign is 204 sunny days, 83°F in July, 24°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in St. Louis and 18 in Champaign.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 100 households moved Champaign → St. Louis (about 151 people, average AGI $78,990). 68 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Champaign and St. Louis changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 180 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into St. Louis
Questions
Is St. Louis cheaper than Champaign after tax and rent?
No. St. Louis leaves about $279 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $897 in Champaign and $1,138 in St. Louis.
Does St. Louis have state income tax?
St. Louis is in Missouri, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Champaign to St. Louis?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.