True Cost of Renting in St Louis, MO

St Louis sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, anchored by Anheuser-Busch (now AB InBev), a world-class healthcare complex (Barnes-Jewish, Washington University Medical School), and 1,371-acre Forest Park — larger than Central Park and entirely free. Rents are among the lowest of any major US metro, making St Louis extraordinary value for anyone employed locally or working remotely.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Central West End (CWE)

Studio:
$950/mo
1 Bed:
$1,200/mo
2 Bed:
$1,700/mo

St Louis's most prestigious urban neighborhood adjacent to Forest Park; tree-lined streets, upscale restaurants on Euclid Avenue, and proximity to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. MetroLink Green Line walkable. Ameren Missouri electric. Mix of historic apartment buildings and new luxury construction.

The Hill

Studio:
$750/mo
1 Bed:
$950/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

St Louis's Italian-American neighborhood west of Downtown; acclaimed restaurants (Charlie Gitto's, Zia's) on Macklind Avenue. Quiet residential streets with lower crime than comparable-priced areas. Church-neighborhood community culture. Close to Highway 44.

Clayton

Studio:
$1,000/mo
1 Bed:
$1,300/mo
2 Bed:
$1,900/mo

St Louis County seat and major employment hub; MetroLink Red Line connects Clayton to Downtown St Louis in 20 minutes. Significant corporate office concentration (Enterprise Holdings, Centene Corp HQ). Premium rents for MetroLink walkability and suburban safety perception.

Utility Providers

Electric
Ameren Missouri
Water
St Louis City Water Division / Missouri American Water
Internet
Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber

Commute & Transportation

St Louis's MetroLink light rail runs from Lambert-St Louis International Airport through Downtown to Clayton and Shrewsbury — 38 stations total. I-64 (US-40) bisects the city east-west; I-44 runs southwest to Springfield; I-55 south to Cape Girardeau and Memphis; I-70 east to Springfield, IL and Chicago. Lambert-St Louis International Airport (STL) is 13 miles northwest — MetroLink serves it directly ($2.50). Major employers: Washington University (largest private employer in Missouri), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Emerson Electric (HQ), Centene Corp (national health insurance HQ), Enterprise Holdings (rental car HQ), AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch), and Boeing Defense (40,000 employees in the St Louis region).

Rental Market Overview

St Louis is one of the best-kept secrets in American rental markets. A Central West End 1BR at $1,200 with Forest Park 3 blocks away would cost $2,800+ in Chicago, $3,500+ in Boston. Ameren Missouri electric rates are competitive ($0.11–0.14/kWh). The MetroLink provides genuine car-free living for Downtown and Clayton workers. St Louis's major challenge is population loss — the city proper has shrunk from 850,000 to 290,000 since 1950, which keeps rents low but also means careful neighborhood selection matters more than in growing metros. The Barnes-Jewish/Washington University Medical complex is a nationally significant healthcare employer that anchors demand in the CWE.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in St Louis

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Renting in St Louis: Common Questions

What is the average rent in St Louis?
One-bedroom apartments in St Louis range from $950/month in The Hill to $1,300/month in Clayton. Two-bedroom units range from $1,400 to $1,900/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in St Louis?
In St Louis, electricity is provided by Ameren Missouri, water by St Louis City Water Division / Missouri American Water, and common internet providers include Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within St Louis.
What neighborhoods are affordable in St Louis?
The Hill is the most affordable of the 3 St Louis neighborhoods covered here, at $950/month for a one-bedroom — $350 less than Clayton, roughly a 27% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is St Louis expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in St Louis runs about $1,150/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. St Louis is one of the best-kept secrets in American rental markets. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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