($1,212) Movers From Des Moines, IA to St. Louis, MO

What to know before moving from Des Moines to St. Louis

Moving from Des Moines to St. Louis comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since St. Louis is generally more expensive than Des Moines, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in St. Louis are 9% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in St. Louis.
  Home prices in St. Louis are 10.9% lower than in Des Moines.
• Income in St. Louis is 13.0% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in St. Louis include BJC HealthCare, Walmart, and Washington University.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in St. Louis, since the cost of living for a single person in St. Louis is 36.9% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to St. Louis, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in St. Louis is 50.1% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in St. Louis is 6.78% higher than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in St. Louis, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Louis are 38.29% higher than in Des Moines.
• State income taxes in St. Louis are 9.09% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,107.35 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. St. Louis

• St. Louis might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 58% less than Des Moines.
• St. Louis offers better access to buses and trains than Des Moines, based on public transportation ratings. St. Louis has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 5 in Des Moines. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in St. Louis means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Des Moines. St. Louis is considered more walkable than Des Moines, with a score of 66 out of 100 versus 45 out of 100 in Des Moines. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, St. Louis is considered more bike-friendly than Des Moines in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. St. Louis has a bike-friendliness score of 58 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in St. Louis is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 69.65 in St. Louis, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in St. Louis. With a crime index of 30.35, St. Louis ranks lower in overall safety than Des Moines, whose index is Des Moines's 57.8. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in St. Louis isn’t as good as it is in Des Moines, so you may want to take precautions if you suffer from conditions like allergies or asthma. St. Louis has an air quality rating of Moderate, and Des Moines is considered to be good. Cities with good to moderate air quality may have varying levels of minor potential for health risks for certain people. Beyond the moderate rating, those health risks increase in severity and the amount of residents affected.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. St. Louis move

• Weather: St. Louis experiences hot summers, cold winters, many thunderstorms, and tornados. There's a chance that the climate will affect your move so be sure to check the forecast ahead of time.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Movers that provide local and intrastate relocation services in Missouri fall under the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Every household goods mover operating in the state is required to have a MoDOT Number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Missouri moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Missouri does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to St. Louis. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Opt for Released Value Protection, the budget-friendly choice with no extra cost from movers. This minimal coverage ensures that movers are liable for a maximum of 60 cents per pound per item. For a comprehensive coverage of your valuables, explore alternative options with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider. Ensure the full value of your items is covered by consulting with the moving company for suitable alternatives.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in St. Louis

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Chess Capital of the World ", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in St. Louis.

Helpful moving resources