Side-by-side city decision # St. Louis vs Chicago. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link St. LouisUnited States1/6 VS ChicagoUnited States5/6 $2,150St. Louis monthly budget $3,275Chicago monthly budget 245 MbpsSt. Louis internet 260 MbpsChicago internet Decision summary Chicago Chicago leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget St. Louis Speed Fastest internet Chicago Vibe Best nomad vibe Chicago Safety Highest safety Chicago Air Cleanest air Chicago Walk Most walkable Chicago Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [St. Louis](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/st-louis.md) United States 1/6 Budget$2,150 Internet245 Mbps Vibe7/10 [Chicago](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/chicago.md) United States 5/6 Budget$3,275 Internet260 Mbps Vibe8/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricSt. LouisChicago Total estimated budget $2,150 $3,275 1-bed center rent $1,250 $2,200 Coworking desk $275 $450 Local meal $18 $22 Cappuccino $5.3 $5.5 Gym membership $45 $75 Transport budget $100 $75 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricSt. LouisChicago Internet speed 245 Mbps 260 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 8/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricSt. LouisChicago Safety index 38/100 48/100 Air quality 68/100 72/100 Walkability 5/10 8/10 Female safety 5/10 6/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 7/10 9/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricSt. LouisChicago Healthcare quality Excellent Excellent English proficiency Excellent Excellent Climate type Humid continental Humid continental Best time to visit Apr - Jun May - Oct Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [St. Louis](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/st-louis.md) United States → ### Strengths * Lower living costs than many major US cities * Fast and widely available home internet * Excellent hospitals and specialist healthcare * Strong food, music, sports, and arts scenes * Friendly Midwestern social culture * Large historic neighborhoods with distinctive character ### Trade-offs * Crime levels vary sharply by neighborhood * A car is useful for much of the metro area * Hot, humid summers and cold winter spells * Public transit has limited citywide coverage * No dedicated US digital nomad visa * Downtown can feel quiet outside events and work hours ### Common visa routes * Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) * B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa * F-1 Student Visa [Chicago](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/chicago.md) United States → ### Strengths * Fast, reliable internet and extensive coworking options * Excellent public transit and highly walkable central neighborhoods * World-class food, music, museums, and architecture * Large international, startup, and remote-worker community * Strong healthcare and major airport connections * Inclusive LGBTQ+ scene and diverse neighborhoods ### Trade-offs * High rent, taxes, and everyday costs * Long, cold, windy winters * Safety varies sharply by neighborhood * Traffic and rush-hour trains can be crowded * US visitor status generally does not authorize local employment * Healthcare is expensive without suitable insurance ### Common visa routes * Visa Waiver Program / ESTA * B-2 visitor visa * H-1B or employer-sponsored work visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.