Here in St. Louis, one of the first things that’s often boasted about is how much you can do without reaching into your wallet. While other cities, big and small, make you cough up a solid chunk of cash to enjoy their finer amenities, places like the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and more are all available for free, not to mention the abundance of public parks, such as the famous Forest Park,  all available within city limits. St. Louis is also known as a “20-minute city” for how convenient it is to get around, with all of these amenities just a short drive or a Metrolink trip away. 

While those who live here have an insane amount of pride for their hometown, St. Louis is unfortunately dinged for crime. and its rates are high, but as with all cities it varies so much by where you are and locals will cry out that common sense solves most ills. Population growth has been in decline over the decades but in the last few years the word seems to be out that St. Louis is a gem and the numbers began to rise a bit each year.


Here’s a Freebie

The Best Thing About St. Louis?

St Louis has a lot of qualities of other midwestern cities. Early industrial wealth was used to build cultural institutions: symphony, ballet, museums, etc. that surprises people who expected the cities to be lacking in performing arts and civic opportunities. Like some other midwestern cities with decent economies, plenty of people stay and that gives it an insular feel. There are incredible strengths here for families, posh and working-class neighborhoods, and great work/life balance respected by local employers. Much of the city energy is around the city's outer ring/suburban family life, mixed with social/cultural life and some younger professionals making it work downtown. 

If you want to see what's happening in St. Louis check out the [**calendar of events**](https://explorestlouis.com/events/).


Lifestyle 

St. Louis has a lot more corporate headquarters than you’d think. The city has a big, well-to-do professional class that benefits from the fact that things are still designed and manufactured here. While the emerging tech and service sector is just getting started you can feel how businesses and employees are staying or moving here to take advantage of the low cost of living and incredible infrastructure. Overall, St. Louis has a big edge over other midwest cities for the diversity of the economy.

Major Industries include:

-**Manufacturing**: St. Louis has a strong legacy in manufacturing, including from automotive and aerospace components to chemicals and electronics.
-**Healthcare and Biotechnology:** The city is a major center for healthcare services and medical research. It hosts numerous hospitals, research institutions, and biotech firms.
-**Financial Services**: Financial services play a significant role in St. Louis’s economy. The city is home to several national and regional banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.
-**Aerospace and Defense**: St. Louis has long been associated with aerospace and defense, with prominent employers in aircraft manufacturing and defense contracting.
-**Transportation and Logistics**: The city’s strategic location along the Mississippi River and as a rail and highway hub makes it a crucial point for the movement of goods.
-**Education and Research**: The city boasts numerous higher education institutions and research centers that contribute to its intellectual capital and workforce development.
-**Technology and Startups:** In recent years, St. Louis has been fostering a burgeoning tech and startup ecosystem, supported by various incubators and innovation hubs.

Major Employers include:

-**Boeing Defense**, Space & Security: A significant player in aerospace and defense manufacturing, employing thousands in the region.
-**BJC HealthCare**: One of the largest nonprofit healthcare organizations in the U.S., BJC operates several hospitals and healthcare facilities in St. Louis.
Washington University in St. Louis: A premier academic and research institution that employs a substantial number of staff and faculty.
-**SSM Health**: Another leading healthcare provider with hospitals and clinics throughout the city.
-**Centene Corporation**: A multinational health insurance company headquartered in St. Louis, one of the major corporate employers.
-**Emerson Electric Co.**: A Fortune 500 company that produces industrial and consumer products and engineering services.
-**Edward Jones**: A financial services firm with a strong presence in wealth management and financial advising.
-**Anheuser-Busch**: The iconic brewery and its parent company, AB InBev, maintain a significant presence in the city.
-**Nestlé Purina PetCare**: A leading manufacturer of pet products headquartered in St. Louis.

**Workforce Development**: There are ongoing efforts to enhance education and training programs to ensure that residents have the skills needed for emerging job markets.
Entrepreneurship: St. Louis is increasingly recognized for its startup ecosystem, particularly in tech and biosciences. Organizations like [**Cortex Innovation Community**](https://www.cortexstl.org/) provide support for new ventures.








Worklife

You should move to St. Louis due to those previously mentioned low prices. With a number of solid public schools in addition to the city's great local parks and free museums, St. Louis is seen as a steal for families given the price tag. Come check out the view from the arch and bring the kids to catch a Cardinals game with us in “The Gateway to the West.”


Buy Low

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**thatgirlagain17**
Living in St Louis
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love living in St. Louis.

I'm from a small, rural town in Missouri, and it was my dream as a kid to move to St. Louis.

First, the food is amazing. I love eating food from different cultures, and STL does not disappoint. There's always something new to try and the old reliables.

STL has a great variance in cultures, and it seems like there's always something going on. I look forward to the festival of nations every year, but there are also other festivals throughout the year that are amazing. I love the Veggie Food Fest and the Muslim Festival.

Our library system is fantastic. I'm so looking forward to when the U City Library renovations are done - I live within walking distance and taking trips there every weekend to check out a new book and walk to Blueprint Coffee is something I look forward to.

Like any city, we have our problems, but with how cheap the cost of living is and all the gorgeous neighborhoods, I can't see myself every leaving.

For more reviews of what living in St. Louis is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/st-louis/reviews)


Sweet Lou

Reviews of St Louis from Locals

Central West End is ground zero for young professionals. It’s wedged between the stunning Forest Park and St. Louis University so you get incredible greenery and the energy of a great campus. It’s a foodie nirvana and there are tons of shopping boutiques, bookstores, cafes and live music throughout the neighborhood. Downtown is another great option. Short walk to work, all the big event destinations around the corner, tons of restaurants of nightlife options, and plenty of apartment/condo and loft options throughout the streets of the area. 
- Central West End
- Downtown
- Lafayette Square


Young Professionals

Central West End

Lafayette Square is an ideal neighborhood for singles and couples who want to skip the madness of downtown. Just a few blocks south but a world away from the condo/corporate scene, the Square is filled with quiet streets of beautiful Victorian homes and townhomes. Lafayette Park is at the center of the neighborhood. 30-acres of greenery for walking the doggo, going for a run or seeing a movie or music act at the outdoor festival space. 
- Lafayette Square
- Shaw
- Soulard


DINKs/SINKs

Lafayette Square

The Grove is the epicenter of LGBTQ+ nightlife in St. Louis. Cocktail bars, clubs, restaurants and music venues that are owned by and/or cater to the community. Central West End is the oldest LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood, with a mix of the city's most active commercial district + LGBTQ-centric clubs and shopping run throughout the blocks. https://explorestlouis.com/discover/st-louis-lgbt/lgbt-friendly-neighborhoods/
- The Grove
- Central West End
- South Grand
- The Loop


LGBTQ+

The Grove

St. Louis is filled with great neighborhoods for families with Southamption one of the most popular. Low crime, and great single-family homes with 2 and 4 family flats line the quiet blocks that are filled with trees and flower gardens. It has some of the best public schools in the city and also has an awesome main street with great eats (delis/burger joint) and pubs and just an overall powerful sense of community. Shaw is another great option. Close to Tower Grove Park and Forest Park so in addition to the great homes, recreation and schools you get the added benefit of the best and biggest parks in the city. 
- Southampton
- Shaw
- Tower Grove South


Families

Southampton

St. Louis

**thatgirlagain17**
Living in St Louis / 2y ago / 🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love living in St. Louis.

I'm from a small, rural town in Missouri, and it was my dream as a kid to move to St. Louis.

First, the food is amazing. I love eating food from different cultures, and STL does not disappoint. There's always something new to try and the old reliables.

STL has a great variance in cultures, and it seems like there's always something going on. I look forward to the festival of nations every year, but there are also other festivals throughout the year that are amazing. I love the Veggie Food Fest and the Muslim Festival.

Our library system is fantastic. I'm so looking forward to when the U City Library renovations are done - I live within walking distance and taking trips there every weekend to check out a new book and walk to Blueprint Coffee is something I look forward to.

Like any city, we have our problems, but with how cheap the cost of living is and all the gorgeous neighborhoods, I can't see myself every leaving.

**fleurderue**
Living in St Louis
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉


70-80k is a great salary for St. Louis. I lived in New Orleans for 7 years and a few other places before moving back to St. Louis. Here are my thoughts after moving back:

-I looove the weather and experiencing four seasons here.

-Crime is about the same where I lived in New Orleans (Uptown and the Westbank) vs here (south city).

-The cost of living is much lower here. We spent a lot on food and utilities in New Orleans, including over $100 a month on water, and that’s when it was just me and my husband in a townhouse with no yard. I love having an Aldi close by!

-I love the amount of free or cheap things to do with kids here.

-Schools are about the same (in the city). You have to do your homework as a parent but there are a lot of great options.

-Everyone complains about STL drivers, but they’re way better compared to drivers in New Orleans and definitely Houston, where I lived before.

**How is it like living in St. Louis**

The Wife and I moved to STL from Alberta 12 years ago.

Day to day life will be comparable in most ways. Being from Southern ON you will have already had experience with humidity. That floored us when we moved. Winters are mild. Most daily highs in January for instance will be above +0c. Cold snaps happen but temps below -10c are not common. Snow is wet and usually just a few dumps of less than 30cm. Melts in a few days.

As others have mentioned traffic and cost of living will be much better. Taxes are lower, the USA is a good great place to be a top income earner. The country is huge and there are so many destinations for holidays (vacations).

Missouri is VERY conservative. Look up abortion for an idea of how things are here. The government is secular in theory but not in practice. Very unfortunate. That said, the cities are much less so.

Violence is much more common in American life. The idea is that you should inact your 2nd amendment rights and protect yourself that way. Personal choice is emphasized. Rather than the Crown providing solutions, you find them for yourself. Healthcare is a great example. Hearing gunfire in urban areas is perhaps the saddest example of this approach. It will feel odd at first but eventually you'll adapt. American's just do things differently. You'll love it or hate it.

All in all we have LOVED IT.

As soon as you land you've received a 20% raise!

You can buy a beautiful historic home in a Victorian neighborhood for peanuts.

People are very friendly.

$ for $ the food and drink situation has developed into one of the best in the country.

The airport is very small and very easy to fly out of. Via Southwest you can fly anywhere directly. West coast ~3h, East coast ~2h, Golf coast ~1.5h. We live in Benton Park and the drive to the airport is 15mins. Park at the terminal, clear security, and your at your gate no more than 45mins after you left your house. Bloody great! There is a direct flight to YYZ.

Traffic is nothing

4hr drive to bourbon country!

Turns out southern MO is pretty beautiful. Definitely explore it.

**Anonymous**
Living in St Louis
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Transplant from Chicago, live in the city.

Pros: (1) St. Louis is not pricey, believe me. No exaggeration: my property taxes are around 1/4th to 1/3rd of what they would be in Chicago or the suburbs. (2) Old brick architecture is pretty cool. (3) Cultural attractions are pretty underrated. The art museums are great, the historical museum is interesting. Also, MUNY, the Fox, Circus Flora, the concert halls... all good. (4) Unique food and drink (5) Excellent colleges (6) Passionate sports fans (7) The regional health system is exceptional (8) I like the peaceful kayaking available within an hour or two drive.

Cons: Way too car-centered. Infrastructure is a wreck, this includes the airport. Active hostility to downtown from locals. Many locals have never left the area and are inflexible to the slightest inkling of moving forward. The city-county separation is stupid and drags the entire region down. The summer weather is a circle of hell. Crime is bad, especially car-related stuff. It's easy to wonder how some members of the elected city government even find their way out their front doors in the morning. Environmental calamities abound.

I drive every day and I have seen far worse driving patterns in the United States. Anyone ever been to Boston?

St. Louis, Missouri