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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

๐Ÿ“ Wilkes-Barre, PA โ€” ZIP-level rent data ยท COL adjusted from Philadelphia, PA area

$

Numbers update automatically as you type

You'd save $1.62/month moving to St. Louis, MO

$150.0K in your current city equals $150.0K in St. Louis, MO

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from area
Overall Cost
โ†“ 0.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1.62
Savings
Annual Impact
$19.38
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Population:44K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$179K

St. Louis, MO

Population:302K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$145K

Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Keystone State

44K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

St. Louis, MO

The Show-Me State

302K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 302K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Wilkes-Barre, PA vs St. Louis, MO

๐Ÿ“ฆOther
โ†‘ 5.3%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$1,526
St. Louis, MO
$1,607
Difference
$81.25
more
๐Ÿ Housing
โ†‘ 4.5%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$1,790
St. Louis, MO
$1,871
Difference
$81.20
more
๐Ÿ›’Groceries
โ†“ 7.3%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$1,024
St. Louis, MO
$949
Difference
$74.60
less
๐ŸฅHealthcare
โ†“ 6.5%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$563
St. Louis, MO
$527
Difference
$36.40
less
โšกAll Utilities
โ†“ 4.8%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$562
St. Louis, MO
$535
Difference
$26.93
less
๐Ÿš—Transportation
โ†“ 0.5%
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$1,222
St. Louis, MO
$1,216
Difference
$5.82
less

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes-Barre Earned Income Tax$4,500/yr (3.0%)
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Earnings Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)
Net difference-$3,000/yr

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$581
To$910
โ†‘ $329
1 Bed
From$694
To$950
โ†‘ $256
2 Bed
From$844
To$1,160
โ†‘ $316
3 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,490
โ†‘ $390
Wilkes-Barre, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $890โ€“$1,010/mo

St. Louis, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $800โ€“$1,480/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,687
Monthly in Wilkes-Barre, PA
$6,705
Monthly in St. Louis, MO
$18.69
Difference

Home Values

Wilkes-Barre
St. Louis
$179K
Median Value
$145K
โ†‘ +7.2%
YoY Change
โ†“ -0.8%
โ†‘ +67.2%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +10.9%
$179K - $180K
Price Range
$38K - $302K

Homes in St. Louis are 19% less expensive than Wilkes-Barre

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†“ $3.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$277
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

St. Louis, 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

Additional Tax Information

Wilkes-Barre, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

St. Louis, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

๐Ÿ’ก 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

Wilkes-Barre
St. Louis
52 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
47.3%
Good Air Days
38%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
99 High
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒ…๐ŸŒ€
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐Ÿซจ
โ–ฒ+2.9ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
22 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
39 days
โ–ฒ+2.9ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
22 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
39 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Pennsylvania and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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