Moving from Kansas City to St. Louis?
KC to STL — within Missouri, both 5.95% combined tax, 6% cheaper housing, free Forest Park, Cardinals/Blues sports.
- 250 mi Distance
- 4 hr Drive time
- 6% lower Home prices
- 202 Sun days/year
Kansas City-to-St. Louis is the in-state Missouri move. Same tax (both cities 5.95% combined: MO 4.95% + city 1% earnings). Housing 6% cheaper, COL 3% lower. The trade: KC BBQ + Mahomes-era Chiefs for STL's Cardinals (11 World Series), Blues, free Forest Park (zoo, art museum, history museum, science center ALL FREE), and Anheuser-Busch/Boeing/Edward Jones career mix.
Why people move from Kansas City to St. Louis.
- Same MO income tax — financially neutral
- Free Forest Park — zoo, art museum, history museum, science center ALL FREE
- Anheuser-Busch (brewing capital), Boeing, Centene, Edward Jones HQ
- BJC HealthCare + Wash U Med — major healthcare/research jobs
- Cardinals (11 World Series) + Blues (2019 Cup) sports culture
- Walkable historic neighborhoods (Central West End, The Hill, Soulard, Lafayette Square)
- Toasted ravioli (The Hill invention)
- Modestly cheaper housing
The money side of MO → MO.
Kansas City
- Median home$250,000
- Income tax4.95% MO + 1% KC (~5.95%)
- Cost index87
St. Louis
- Median home$235,000
- Income tax4.95% MO + 1% STL (~5.95%)
- Cost index84
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of St. Louis, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Forest Park — 1,300 acres (50% larger than Central Park) with FREE zoo, art museum, history museum, science center
- Missouri Botanical Garden — 1859 garden; Climatron, Japanese Garden, 79 acres
Culture & Arts
- Gateway Arch National Park — 630-ft Eero Saarinen arch (1965); newest US national park
- Saint Louis Art Museum (free) — Free admission in Forest Park; encyclopedic collection
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour — Free Clydesdale stable + tour; iconic brewery since 1852
- Busch Stadium (Cardinals) — MLB Cardinals; 11 World Series titles (most NL)
- The Hill (Italian district) — Italian neighborhood — birthplace of toasted ravioli
- Cahokia Mounds (15 min E in IL) — UNESCO World Heritage; pre-Columbian mound city
Family-Friendly
- St. Louis Zoo (free) — Top-ranked US zoo — admission is free
- City Museum — 10-story repurposed shoe factory turned playground; rooftop ferris wheel
St. Louis's essential restaurants.
The dining list every St. Louis resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Niche / Sidney Street Cafe Modern American Benton Park
Gerard Craft (James Beard winner)
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Pastaria Italian Clayton
Gerard Craft — wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta
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Pappy's Smokehouse BBQ Midtown
Memphis-style ribs; cult favorite
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Bogart's Smokehouse BBQ Soulard
Pappy's offshoot; brisket and burnt ends
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Imo's Pizza St. Louis pizza Multiple
Cracker-thin crust, Provel cheese — STL-style icon
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Charlie Gitto's Italian The Hill
Original toasted ravioli inventor (allegedly)
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Kingside Diner Diner Multiple
Classic American breakfast/diner
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Vicia Modern vegetable-forward Central West End
Michael + Tara Gallina; James Beard nominees
Best St. Louis neighborhoods for Kansas City transplants.
Mapped to the Kansas City neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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Central West End
If Crossroads was your speed — walkable, restaurants, near Forest Park
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The Hill
If Brookside was your vibe — Italian heritage, walkable, family
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Soulard
If Westport historic was your goal — historic walkable, market, Mardi Gras
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Lafayette Square
If Waldo family was your goal — Victorian historic district, family
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Clayton (suburb)
If Overland Park was your suburban model — walkable, top schools, dense urban center
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Webster Groves (suburb)
If Brookside family was your speed — charming inner-ring, top schools
What daily life feels like in St. Louis.
Climate
Humid continental. Hot, humid summers (68-89°F). Cold winters (25-43°F) with 17 inches snow. Spring tornado/storm risk. 41 inches rainfall, 202 sun days.
- Summer68-89°F
- Winter25-43°F
- Sun days/yr202
- Rainfall41 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score64/100
- Transit Score47/100
- Bike Score52/100
St. Louis is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Forest Park — 1,300 acres with free zoo, museums, golf, lakes
- Missouri Botanical Garden — 79 acres
- Tower Grove Park — 289 acres Victorian park
- Mississippi Riverfront — Gateway Arch grounds and beyond
- Castlewood State Park (30 min west) — bluffs, hiking, mountain biking
- Forest Park bike paths and Trolley Trail
What changes about your daily life.
- Same MO+city tax — no change
- Housing 6% cheaper — modest savings
- Cost of living 3% lower
- Climate similar (both humid continental, brutal winters)
- KC streetcar replaced with STL Metro (similar smaller scale)
- BBQ scene shifts — KC burnt ends/Z-Man → STL Pappy's/Bogart's (different style)
- Free Forest Park is unique — saves $200-400/visit vs. KC equivalents
- Music scene smaller (KC had jazz heritage 18th & Vine; STL Blues museum)
- Sports culture shifts — Chiefs/Royals → Cardinals/Blues (no NFL)
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 250 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$2,000-$4,000
- Container/PODS$1,500-$2,800
- DIY (26-ft truck)$1,000-$2,000
- Best monthsApr-Oct (avoid both winters + tornado peak)
- Lead time3-5 weeks ahead
Intra-state MO move; MoDOT regulated, no federal USDOT.
Moving from Kansas City to St. Louis: FAQ.
Free Forest Park — biggest difference?
Yes for families. STL's Forest Park has free zoo + art museum + history museum + science center for all ages. KC's Nelson-Atkins Museum is free but zoo costs admission. The differential is $200-400/visit savings vs. KC equivalents. Locals use Forest Park weekly.
Worth giving up Mahomes-era Chiefs?
Sports-fan-dependent. KC has Mahomes-era dynasty (multiple Super Bowls). STL has Cardinals (11 World Series) + Blues (2019 Cup) but no NFL. Most KC-to-STL movers maintain Chiefs loyalty (4-hour drive enables monthly visits) and adopt Cardinals as second team.
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