St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Missouri. The eye-catching Gateway Arch is the world’s tallest man-made monument and symbolizes that St. Louis, Missouri is the Gateway to the West. During the days of Westward Expansion, St. Louis was a key hub for the pioneers and the last stop before facing the difficult western journey. St. Louis was also geographically significant during the steamboat era due to its prime location at the juncture of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. Its centralized location in the country allows easy access for long-distance travel today via air, rail, or water.
Brimming with beauty, culture, and attractions, St. Louis offers more free activities to the public than any other U.S. city except Washington, D.C. In addition to the Arch, St. Louis is home to the Missouri Botanical Garden which is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest botanical institutions in the U.S. There are countless other museums and interesting destinations to explore in the St. Louis area.
Beyond its rich history and a nearly endless choice of attractions, there is another reason St. Louis is an ideal place to call home. The cost of living in St. Louis is approximately 6% lower than the national average. With many jobs available that offer good salaries and its high standard of living, St. Louis a great place to live. The combination of the lower cost of living and many free opportunities for entertainment allows residents to stretch their money further while enjoying life to the fullest.
How expensive is an apartment in St. Louis?
The average monthly rent for a studio apartment is $794, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $950, and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,295 per month.
While rent and housing expenses in St. Louis are 27% lower than the national average, the cost of utilities is approximately 15% higher. It’s important to remember to budget for utility costs when you are planning your monthly expenses. You can look for average utility costs and use an online utility calculator to estimate your utility costs.
St. Louis residents have convenient access to many forms of public transport including buses and the light rail system which is one of the best mass transit systems in the country. Look at the availability of public transportation for the apartments you explore if this is a priority for you. If you own a car, you may be able to move farther from the city center.
How do I find cheap apartments in St. Louis?
There are a few different ways to find cheap apartments in St. Louis. One of the easiest ways of reducing your monthly living expenses is to split costs with a roommate. If you are careful and selective with your choice of a roommate, you may find yourself in a very beneficial situation that extends beyond the first year. It’s important to make a roommate agreement with clearly stated guidelines before moving in together to ensure meeting the expectations for each roommate.
Another key to finding a cheap apartment is to conduct your apartment search frequently and on a daily basis if possible. When searching for lower-priced apartments, keep in mind that these tend to get rented again very quickly after they get listed. So, when looking for an apartment on a budget, one of the most important factors of your search should be to be consistent with taking action. The job market in St. Louis is exceptional, and finding out a quality job will allow you to build a solid financial foundation while you get settled.
What is the cheapest rent in St. Louis?
Generally, the smaller the apartment, the cheaper the rent. So, look for a studio or one-bedroom apartment to find some of the lowest rents. There are studio apartments starting as low as $425 per month in St. Louis, and one-bedroom apartments as low as $495 per month.
There are several things to consider when trying to decrease rent expenses. The location of the apartment will have a big impact on the price of rent, so finding an apartment a little bit further from the metropolitan area might save you money on your rent.
Another way to find a cheaper apartment is to consider apartments even further from the city or to seek small apartments converted from garages or attics. If you rely upon public transportation, this may not be an option, so before you start searching for your apartment it’s important to decide how close to the city you want or need to be.
Budgeting is a key consideration when seeking affordable rent. Create a realistic but frugal monthly budget, and practice discipline in sticking to it. You can take a free or low-cost budgeting class online. Explore different ways to be thrifty and save money at home and take advantage of the many free attractions all over St. Louis. Some examples of fun things you can do for free include visiting the zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, Forest Park, the Science Center, or the Gateway Arch.
Taking time to conduct a thorough search for an affordable apartment, creating a tighter budget and temporarily cutting back on expenses, being creative when furnishing your apartment, and finding free things to do are all keys to finding a place you can afford and appreciate in St. Louis. Browse apartments for rent in St. Louis on Zumper and find your next home.
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