Is St. Louis, MO or Austin, TX cheaper on a $120,000 salary?

St. Louis, MO leaves you more: $1,942/yr. On $120,000, St. Louis, MO leaves $70,936/yr in pocket (state tax $5,640, housing $13,844) vs Austin, TX's $68,994 (state tax $0, housing $21,426).

The gap is driven mostly by state income tax (Missouri: 4.70% vs Texas: 0%) and housing.

WhereCanIAfford › Take-home › St. Louis, MO vs Austin, TX

St. Louis, MO vs Austin, TX: cost of living on $120,000

St. Louis, MO +$1,942/yr On $120,000, St. Louis, MO leaves $70,936/yr in pocket vs Austin, TX's $68,994 — after state income tax and housing.

Where the money goes

On $120,000	St. Louis, MO	Austin, TX
Federal + FICA (est.)	$29,580	$29,580
State income tax	$5,640 (4.70%)	$0 (0%)
After-tax income	$84,780	$90,420
− Housing/yr (Zillow)	$13,844	$21,426
Real money in pocket	$70,936	$68,994

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 St. Louis, MO or Austin, TX cheaper?: On $120,000, St. Louis, MO — by $1,942/yr in real take-home.
What's the biggest driver?: State income tax (Missouri 4.70% vs Texas 0%) and housing cost.

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