University City, MO vs Fairfield, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fairfield, OH has a modeled overall cost index 2.9% higher than University City, MO.

University City, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,360 / month
Fairfield, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,470 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare University City, MO and Fairfield, OH using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated extra cost: $174/month in Fairfield, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,094 in Fairfield, OH

Regional cost estimates: University City, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Fairfield, OH uses Cincinnati, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 2.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$174
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

University City, MO

Population:34K
Cost Index:
82.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$268K

Fairfield, OH

Population:44K
Cost Index:
85.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$271K

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University City, MO

The Show-Me State

34K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 34K residents.

Fairfield, OH

The Buckeye State

44K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 44K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: University City, MO vs Fairfield, OH

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 11.7%
University City, MO
$1,923
Fairfield, OH
$2,148
Difference
$225
more
All Utilities
↓ 13.0%
University City, MO
$627
Fairfield, OH
$545
Difference
$81.63
less
Healthcare
↑ 7.4%
University City, MO
$616
Fairfield, OH
$661
Difference
$45.29
more
Groceries
↓ 2.9%
University City, MO
$1,111
Fairfield, OH
$1,079
Difference
$32.14
less
Other
↑ 0.5%
University City, MO
$1,835
Fairfield, OH
$1,845
Difference
$10.03
more
Transportation
↑ 0.5%
University City, MO
$1,388
Fairfield, OH
$1,396
Difference
$7.59
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Fairfield, OH: Fairfield Municipal Income Tax$2,250/yr (1.5%)

University City, MO has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,070
To$1,040
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,110
To$1,140
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,470
↑ $110
3 Bed
From$1,750
To$1,940
↑ $190
University City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/mo

Fairfield, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,140–$1,140/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in University City, MO
$7,674
Monthly in Fairfield, OH
$174
Difference

Home Values

University City
Fairfield
$268K
Median Value
$271K
↑ +1.7%
YoY Change
↑ +3.4%
↑ +22.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +40.9%

Homes in Fairfield are 1% more expensive than University City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$292
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.3%
Rate difference

University City, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Fairfield, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

University City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Fairfield, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

University City
Fairfield
54 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
38%
Good Air Days
44.8%
99 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days

Before moving from University City, MO to Fairfield, OH

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fairfield, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in University City, MO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your University City to Fairfield moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fairfield, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: University City, MO vs Fairfield, OH

How do the cost estimates for University City, MO and Fairfield, OH compare?

Fairfield, OH has a modeled overall cost index 2.9% higher than University City, MO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in University City, MO, the model estimates $152,094 in Fairfield, OH. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for University City, MO and Fairfield, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,360/month in University City, MO and $1,470/month in Fairfield, OH. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Missouri and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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