Rents are right about where Saint Louis's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,292 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Saint Louis usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Saint Louis is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Saint Louis changed +3.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent in Saint Louis is 38.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 14 ZIP codes in Saint Louis, 63102 ($1,901/mo), costs 2 times the cheapest, 63115 ($952/mo).
Granite City, IL, 10 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,046/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Saint Louis. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
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How Saint Louis, MO has changed in 5 years
Rent in Saint Louis, MO has increased 31.7% since 2021, going from about $981 per month to roughly $1,292 today. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Saint Louis, MO reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Saint Louis on your salary?
At $1,292/mo, how Saint Louis rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Saint Louis rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Saint Louis. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Saint Louis
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Saint Louis is $1,292/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $967/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,241/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,005/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,605/mo.
At 22% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Saint Louis ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,292/mo, rent takes ~22% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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