Is Baltimore, MD or St. Louis, MO cheaper on a $120,000 salary?

St. Louis, MO leaves you more: $6,810/yr. On $120,000, Baltimore, MD leaves $64,126/yr in pocket (state tax $6,000, housing $20,294) vs St. Louis, MO's $70,936 (state tax $5,640, housing $13,844).

The gap is driven mostly by state income tax (Maryland: 5% vs Missouri: 4.70%) and housing.

WhereCanIAfford › Take-home › Baltimore, MD vs St. Louis, MO

Baltimore, MD vs St. Louis, MO: cost of living on $120,000

St. Louis, MO +$6,810/yr On $120,000, Baltimore, MD leaves $64,126/yr in pocket vs St. Louis, MO's $70,936 — after state income tax and housing.

Where the money goes

On $120,000	Baltimore, MD	St. Louis, MO
Federal + FICA (est.)	$29,580	$29,580
State income tax	$6,000 (5%)	$5,640 (4.70%)
After-tax income	$84,420	$84,780
− Housing/yr (Zillow)	$20,294	$13,844
Real money in pocket	$64,126	$70,936

Verified 2026-06-23 · State tax: Tax Foundation, “State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2025” + state revenue departments. Modeled as an effective planning rate for a typical $80k–$160k filer — not a full bracket engine. · Housing from Zillow ZHVI 2026-05.

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FAQ

Is Baltimore, MD or St. Louis, MO cheaper?: On $120,000, St. Louis, MO — by $6,810/yr in real take-home.
What's the biggest driver?: State income tax (Maryland 5% vs Missouri 4.70%) and housing cost.

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