Which place is cheaper, Saint Louis or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Saint Louis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Saint Louis? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kansas City or Saint Louis?
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
Saint Louis
Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West" and perhaps best known for its iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, has grown from a last stop for pioneers journeying west to a thriving metropolis notable for its diverse culture, impressive architecture, and unique neighborhoods. It sits on the Mississippi River and has plenty to offer in dining, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Saint Louis $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Saint Louis is $184. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kansas City and Saint Louis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Saint Louis $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Saint Louis $202
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Saint Louis
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Saint Louis? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kansas City Hotel Prices and Saint Louis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Saint Louis $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Louis
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:
- St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- St. Louis City to St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- Private Transfers for Departure from Queens to JFK Airport: $29
- Private Transfer in Saint Louis, MO (STL): $80
- Private Transfer from Port Louis Airport (MRU) to Port Louis Port: $76
- Departure Transfer St. Louis to St. Louis Airport by Car or SUV: $116
- Arrival transfer St. Louis Airport STL to St. Louis by Car or SUV: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Saint Louis?
Prices for flights to both Saint Louis and Kansas City change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKansas City $47Saint Louis $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Louis
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - St. Louis, MO: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Saint Louis $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint Louis
Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Gateway Arch parking$6.00
Tours and Activities in Saint Louis
Here are a few actual costs in Saint Louis for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Best of St. Louis Small Group Tour w/St Louis Arch & River Cruise: $174
- ChocoCulture Saint Louis Half-Day Private Tour: $299
- Exploring St. Louis with the Family Walking Tour: $211
- Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $5.20
- Landmarks Downtown-East Walking Tour: $15
- Landmarks Downtown-West Walking Tour: $15
- Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Private Gastronomy Barbecue Tour in St. Louis: $125
- Romantic Tour in The City of Love: $174
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in St. Louis by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- St Louis Cardinals Baseball Game Ticket at Busch Stadium: $9.80
- St. Louis Arch and River Cruise Small Group Walking Tour: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Saint Louis $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Louis
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Louis:
- The Haunted Lemp Brewery Bottle Works Tour: $25
When comparing the travel costs between Kansas City and Saint Louis, we can see that Saint Louis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is Saint Louis Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Saint Louis?
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City and Saint Louis, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Kansas City or Saint Louis?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Kansas City or Saint Louis in the Summer?
Both Saint Louis and Kansas City during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kansas City is around the same temperature as Saint Louis. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kansas City in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Saint Louis averages at about 81°F (27°C).
In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kansas City. In the summer, Kansas City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 325 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 309 hours of full sun.
Kansas City usually gets less rain in July than Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKansas City 82°F (28°C)Saint Louis 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Saint Louis in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kansas City and Saint Louis. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year.
In October, Kansas City is generally around the same temperature as Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in Kansas City average around 60°F (15°C), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis during autumn. Kansas City gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Kansas City usually receives less rain than Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKansas City 60°F (15°C)Saint Louis 60°F (16°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Saint Louis in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kansas City as well as Saint Louis. Also, many travelers come to Saint Louis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Louis. It's quite cold in Kansas City in the winter. Kansas City is much colder than Saint Louis in the winter. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Saint Louis fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 160 hours of full sun.
Kansas City usually gets less rain in January than Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKansas City 30°F (-1°C)Saint Louis 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Saint Louis in the Spring?
Both Saint Louis and Kansas City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Kansas City is around the same temperature as Saint Louis. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kansas City in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Saint Louis averages at about 58°F (15°C).
It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis during spring. Kansas City gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 229 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. In April, Kansas City usually receives less rain than Saint Louis. Kansas City gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKansas City 58°F (15°C)Saint Louis 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Saint Louis and Kansas City
| Kansas City | Saint Louis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (15°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Dec | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 inches (30 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.