Considering moving to St. Louis? Nicknamed the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis is located downstream from where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers connect. River City has tons of great career and education opportunities, family-friendly activities, historical landmarks, and more. Here are 13 things to know about living in St. Louis!
St. Louis at a Glance
- St. Louis has a population of just over 300,000 residents, while the greater St. Louis metro area is home to nearly 3 million people, making it one of the largest metropolitan regions in the Midwest and giving it a big-city feel.
- Located in eastern Missouri along the western bank of the Mississippi River, St. Louis sits near the Illinois border.
- St. Louis is best known for the Gateway Arch, a 630-foot monument that symbolizes the city’s role as the historic “Gateway to the West.”
- A city of history with great public transit, family-friendly amenities like parks, and healthy job market, St. Louis is a great place to move to and call home.
- General admission to the St. Louis Zoo is complimentary, making the city the home of the largest free zoo in the country.
Find Affordable Cost of Living in St. Louis
Even though St. Louis is one of the largest cities in the Midwest (with a metro population of 2.8 million), it’s a great place to find affordable living! The cost of living in St. Louis is 10% lower than the national average—and with median home prices around $120,900 (and median rent around $759), residents can find affordable housing, too. Plus, with a consistently top-ranking affordable housing market, St. Louis offers luxurious budget-free housing to anyone looking to move to the Gateway to the West!
A: No, it is not expensive to live in St. Louis. With a cost of living 10% lower than the national average, residents of St. Louis can save on everything from housing and healthcare to transportation and groceries, making it a relatively affordable place to live in Missouri—and a major reason why people are moving to St. Louis.
To compare the cost of living in St. Louis to your current city’s, use our cost of living calculator.
Find a Job in St. Louis
With an unemployment rate of about 2.8%, St. Louis is an excellent place to settle down for singles and young professionals and families without the hefty price tag that comes with living in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York City. Plus, the city is an ideal place for residents who prefer to work remotely! St. Louis’ robust job market is home to seven Fortune 500 companies—including Edward Jones, Emerson, and Centene Corporation—and offers employment in a variety of industries like aviation, biotechnology, information technology, electrical utilities, financial services, and beverage and food manufacturing. If you’re looking for careers with St. Louis’ biggest employers, check out BJC HealthCare, Washington University in St. Louis, Boeing, and SSM Health. Or check out open positions in food and beverage production at one of the world’s largest brewers, AB InBev.
A: Yes, St. Louis has a stable and diverse job market supported by industries such as healthcare, education, biotech, finance, and manufacturing. Major employers include hospitals, universities, and large corporations.
Learn at High Quality St. Louis Schools
Mound City has excellent public and private education from preschool all the way up to graduate school. St. Louis public schools like Clayton High School, Lindbergh High School, and Kirkwood High School come highly-recommended for their athletic and extracurricular programs—while private schools like John Burroughs School, MICDS, and Whitfield School are top-rated for class size and academic focus. For those looking for higher education, the University of Missouri-St. Louis has one of only 23 optometry schools in the U.S., and Washington University in St. Louis has excellent STEM major offerings, like Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. There’s also Webster University, which has a robust fine arts program that confronts challenging ideas and a three-time world champion chess team. And Saint Louis University, a private Jesuit college, has a sister campus in Madrid with study abroad opportunities.
A: No, Washington University in St. Louis is not an Ivy League school. However, it is a highly prestigious private research university that consistently ranks among the top universities in the United States for academics, research, and medical programs.
Home of the Famous St. Louis Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is the most easily-recognizable landmark in the city! The Arch—designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen—was built in honor of Thomas Jefferson and his vision of a transcontinental United States. This structure stands at 630 feet, making it the tallest arch in the world—as well as the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. The Arch is also associated with Dred Scott suing for his freedom in the Old Courthouse. Schedule a tram ride to the top for amazing sights, explore the museum for free to learn more about Missouri’s role in pioneer history, or hop on a riverboat dinner cruise to get a different view of the arch!
A: Construction on the Gateway Arch began in 1963, and the monument was completed in 1965.
Root for Local St. Louis Sports Teams
Looking for fun things to do in St. Louis? This city loves its pro sports teams! Head out to Busch Stadium to watch the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) play baseball. Even though St. Louis no longer has a pro football team, the Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues (NHL) are holding it down. The St. Louis Blues (NHL) even won the Stanley Cup in 2019 after defeating the Boston Bruins (NHL). More of a college sports fan? Catch the St. Louis University Billikens men’s and women’s basketball games. Or take advantage of St. Louis University‘s 18 Division I NCAA sports teams, including baseball, cross country, field hockey, volleyball, swimming and diving, and more.
A: There are three major pro sports teams in St. Louis: the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), the St. Louis Blues (NHL), and St. Louis City SC (MLS).
Sip Some Brews at Anheuser-Busch St. Louis
Most people have heard of Anheuser-Busch—their beers, from Busch to Budweiser, are a staple of American lagers. But did you know that they’re a huge part of St. Louis’ history? In fact, the St. Louis Brewery is their biggest and oldest in the United States and has been a national historic landmark for over 50 years! Tour the Anheuser-Busch complex or head to the St. Louis Biergarten for professionally paired food and beer tastings. St. Louis is also home to the famous Budweiser Clydesdales! Grant’s Farm, a huge plot of land once worked by President Ulysses S. Grant, has a petting zoo, free beer sampling, and the fluffy-footed horses Clydesdale featured in many Budweiser ads.
A: St. Louis has more than 20 breweries and a thriving craft brewery scene, including popular spots like Schlafly, 4 Hands Brewing Co., and Urban Chestnut.
Visit St. Louis’ Forest Park
There’s no shortage of things to do in St. Louis, and a lot of them are located in Forest Park! This massive public park has 1,300 acres of green space, urban trails, and major attractions. Catch Broadway shows like Mary Poppins or Chicago at The Muny, the largest outdoor musical theater in North America. Practice your figure-eights and other ice skating tricks at Steinberg Skating Rink. Explore science and technology exhibits like Virtual Reality Transporter or Life Science Lab—or get starstruck in the planetarium or see nature films at the IMAX—at the St. Louis Science Center. Or spend the day strolling through the St. Louis Zoo to see over 14,000 animals like red pandas, hippos, giraffes, and more!
A: Forest Park is completely free to enter!
Discover St. Louis History
Step into the past with St. Louis landmarks like the Old Courthouse, where the Dred Scott Civil Rights decision and the Virginia Minor women’s suffragist case took place. The Missouri History Museum has exhibits spanning everything from the Civil War to modern children’s toys, so you’ll find something that matches your historical interests. Once a major train depot, St. Louis Union Station has a century-old architecture history buffs will love and family-friendly activities like mini golf, a carousel, or a rope course. You can also visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis or (connected) Mosaic Museum to catch a glimpse of the intricate mosaic artwork or tour the burial crypts.
A: St. Louis was founded in 1764, making the city over 260 years old.
Visit the Best St. Louis Attractions
Trying to find popular St. Louis attractions to check out? Explore the imaginative and whimsical City Museum, which is housed in the skeleton of the International Shoe Company factory and offers a unique mixture of a playground, aquarium, circus, and museum. Attend traveling exhibits like the Spitzer Collection as well as regular performances from local musicians at the National Blues Museum. Stop by the Grand Center Arts District to explore the free Contemporary Art Museum or take a ballroom dancing class. If you’re looking for some quieter things to do in St. Louis, consider browsing through books at the St. Louis Central Library or exploring rotating exhibits like Dangerous Women. Or spend time at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where you can see attractions like the Climatron geodesic dome or Sachs Museum.
A: You can spend the day at the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Zoo, the Gateway Arch, or the City Museum.
Find Fun Family Things to Do in St. Louis
Searching for fun things to do with kids in St. Louis? Check out the St. Louis Aquarium to see over 13,000 animals or enroll the kids in Camp Fins & Friends, a summer camp to help kids learn more about marine biology. Let the kids experience the thrill of zip-lining at Adventure Valley. Find over 25 sculptures that blend art and nature at Citygarden. Visit the free St. Louis Art Museum and participate in a kid-friendly art activity at the weekly “Family Sunday: Make Your Mark” event. Or explore the connection of chess to art and history at the World Chess Hall of Fame.
A: Yes! There are several museums in St. Louis that are geared toward children, including The Magic House St. Louis Children’s Museum and City Museum.
Attend Exceptional Concerts in St. Louis
Music lovers can unite in hundreds of St. Louis venues and admire the city’s music history. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest symphony in the United States (right after the New York Philharmonic) and has won nine Grammys. Visit The Fabulous Fox theater to see Broadway hits like Tootsie, Wicked, and Les Miserables. History buffs and pianists should head to the Scott Joplin House, a museum dedicated to the legendary Ragtime performer. Combine treats and beats at Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and live music club best known for its association with the father of rock ‘n’ roll himself, Chuck Berry.
A: St. Louis is known for ragtime, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and jazz.
Eat at Unique Restaurants in St. Louis
Grab some napkins—St. Louis is famous for its unique food options! Order a Farmer’s Breakfast, Jimmy Burger, or Baked Butter Pecan French Toast at Polite Society. Head to Pappy’s Smokehouse for Memphis-style barbecue like Beef Brisket, a BBQ Salad, or Pulled Pork. Bite into Italian favorites like Baked Penne, an Italian Meatball Sandwich, or Tortellini at Charlie Gitto’s. Enjoy Beef Ravioli, Seafood Linguine, or Salmon Valentino at Mama’s On the Hill. Stop into Imo’s Pizza for St. Louis-style Veggie Pizza, Baked Cannelloni, or a Turkey Club Sandwich. Pop in for delicious desserts like a Banana Split, a Super Sundae, or the Peanut Butter Shake at Ted Drewes. Or fill up on sweet treats like a Chocolate Cakewich, Frosted Sugar Cookie, or a Red Velvet Cupcake at The Cup bakery.
A: St. Louis is famous for gooey butter cake, a rich, sweet dessert that originated in the city and remains a local staple found in bakeries and restaurants.
Take Part in St. Louis Nightlife
The best bars in St. Louis cover every possible taste, whether that’s champagne or light beer. Located in a historic bank, Trust is a craft cocktail paradise that offers drinks like the Southside Stinger, Somewhere Near Manhattan, or Spiced Red Sangria. Find an extensive wine list and craft beer selection at the 360, a rooftop bar with an incredible view near Busch Stadium. Get dressed to the nines before heading to The Thaxton, a speakeasy in a beautiful Art Deco venue used for corporate events and weddings. Heels or a bowtie not your style? The Hair of the Dog is a dive bar open until 3 a.m. with a hockey table and arcade games. For the more eclectic crowds looking for St. Louis nightlife, find karaoke, drag performances, burlesque, or open mic events on different nights at Crack Fox.
A: The most popular clubs in St. Louis include The Honkey Tonk STL, The Pepper Lounge, and Club Viva.
Free Tools For A Hassle-Free St. Louis Move
- Estimate how much it will cost to move
- Use our moving box calculator to determine how many boxes you’ll need
- Local places in St. Louis to find free & cheap moving boxes
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