Uprootmap
St. Louis vs Champaign
St. Louis and Champaign
Photo: Cubbie15fan / 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 Champaign are close to the US rate in this release, 6.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at St. Louis to Champaign
In 2022-2023, 68 households filed a move from St. Louis to Champaign (about 99 people, average adjusted gross income $54,338). 100 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,138 in St. Louis and $897 in Champaign. St. Louis has a state tax on wages. Champaign has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Champaign is 87% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in St. Louis.
Champaign averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 24°F. St. Louis is 202 sunny days, 89°F in July, 22°F in January. Commutes average 18 minutes in Champaign and 25 in St. Louis.
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, 68 households moved St. Louis → Champaign (about 99 people, average AGI $54,338). 100 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 St. Louis and Champaign 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 Champaign
Questions
Is Champaign cheaper than St. Louis after tax and rent?
Yes. Champaign leaves about $279 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,138 in St. Louis and $897 in Champaign.
Does Champaign have state income tax?
Champaign is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from St. Louis to Champaign?
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.