Rent vs Buy Calculator — St. Louis, MO
Prefilled with St. Louis estimates: a ~$240,000 home (about $48,000 for 20% down) versus ~$1,300/mo rent. Missouri's effective property tax of 0.97% — near the U.S. average (~1.1%) — adds roughly $2,328/yr, and typical homeowners insurance runs about $2,900/yr. Adjust every field to your actual home below.
Is it better to rent or buy in St. Louis?
There's no universal answer — it hinges on how long you'll stay, what you'd earn investing the down payment instead, and Missouri's tax and insurance costs. Property tax is the biggest local lever: at 0.97% on a $240,000 home that's about $2,328 every year, before insurance and maintenance. Use the break-even readout above to see the year buying pulls ahead, and the appreciation rate that flips the decision.
What makes St. Louis, MO different
- Median home price estimate: $240,000
- Typical monthly rent estimate: $1,300
- Missouri effective property tax: 0.97% (~$2,328/yr here)
- Missouri avg. homeowners insurance: $2,900/yr
Starting estimates as of 2026-01 — see the methodology & sources.