Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami, FL
Pros
65% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($174,100 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($938 vs $1,494)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Median Income
$1,917
$54,858 vs $52,941/yr
Miami
Violent Crime
65% lower
473.3 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$260k less
$174,100 vs $433,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 44.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. Miami wins 10 and St. Louis wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Miami to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($54,858 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and St. Louis, MO are about 1,063 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.