Moving from Memphis to St. Louis

The Story

Memphis-to-St. Louis is FedEx → Boeing Defense + Wash U move. TN 0% → MO 5.95% costs $5,950/yr. Housing same, COL 8% higher. Pull: Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production, Washington University medical (top NIH funding), Anheuser-Busch HQ, Edward Jones, Cardinals/Blues sports passion.

Why This Move

Why people move from Memphis to St. Louis.

Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production
Memphis FedEx → Boeing Defense logistics/aerospace pivot
Washington University medical — top NIH-funded research
Anheuser-Busch HQ + Edward Jones
BJC HealthCare + Mercy networks
MetroLink light rail in core
Cardinals + Blues sports passion
Mississippi River corridor

Cost Comparison

The money side of TN → MO.

Memphis

Median home$235,000
Income tax0% (TN)
Cost index78

St. Louis

Median home$235,000
Income tax4.95% MO + 1% STL (~5.95%)
Cost index84

What to Do in St. Louis

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of St. Louis, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

Forest Park — 1,300 acres (50% larger than Central Park) with FREE zoo, art museum, history museum, science center
Missouri Botanical Garden — 1859 garden; Climatron, Japanese Garden, 79 acres

Culture & Arts

Gateway Arch National Park — 630-ft Eero Saarinen arch (1965); newest US national park
Saint Louis Art Museum (free) — Free admission in Forest Park; encyclopedic collection
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour — Free Clydesdale stable + tour; iconic brewery since 1852
Busch Stadium (Cardinals) — MLB Cardinals; 11 World Series titles (most NL)
The Hill (Italian district) — Italian neighborhood — birthplace of toasted ravioli
Cahokia Mounds (15 min E in IL) — UNESCO World Heritage; pre-Columbian mound city

Family-Friendly

St. Louis Zoo (free) — Top-ranked US zoo — admission is free
City Museum — 10-story repurposed shoe factory turned playground; rooftop ferris wheel

Where to Eat

St. Louis's essential restaurants.

The dining list every St. Louis resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

Niche / Sidney Street Cafe Modern American Benton Park

Gerard Craft (James Beard winner)
Pastaria Italian Clayton

Gerard Craft — wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta
Pappy's Smokehouse BBQ Midtown

Memphis-style ribs; cult favorite
Bogart's Smokehouse BBQ Soulard

Pappy's offshoot; brisket and burnt ends
Imo's Pizza St. Louis pizza Multiple

Cracker-thin crust, Provel cheese — STL-style icon
Charlie Gitto's Italian The Hill

Original toasted ravioli inventor (allegedly)
Kingside Diner Diner Multiple

Classic American breakfast/diner
Vicia Modern vegetable-forward Central West End

Michael + Tara Gallina; James Beard nominees

Where to Live

Best St. Louis neighborhoods for Memphis transplants.

Mapped to the Memphis neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Central West End

If Cooper-Young was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
Soulard

If you wanted historic — walkable, breweries
The Hill

If you wanted Italian/foodie — walkable, charming
Clayton (suburb)

If East Memphis was your model — affluent, top schools, walkable
Webster Groves (suburb)

If you wanted historic — top schools, charm
Kirkwood (suburb)

If Germantown was your scene — top schools, walkable downtown

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in St. Louis.

Climate

Humid continental. Hot, humid summers (68-89°F). Cold winters (25-43°F) with 17 inches snow. Spring tornado/storm risk. 41 inches rainfall, 202 sun days.

Summer68-89°F
Winter25-43°F
Sun days/yr202
Rainfall41 inches

Walkability

Walk Score64/100
Transit Score47/100
Bike Score52/100

St. Louis is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.

Outdoors & Recreation

Forest Park — 1,300 acres with free zoo, museums, golf, lakes
Missouri Botanical Garden — 79 acres
Tower Grove Park — 289 acres Victorian park
Mississippi Riverfront — Gateway Arch grounds and beyond
Castlewood State Park (30 min west) — bluffs, hiking, mountain biking
Forest Park bike paths and Trolley Trail

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

TN 0% becomes MO 5.95% — costs $5,950/year on $100K
Housing similar — $235K both
COL 8% higher
Climate similar humid continental
Property tax MO 1.0% higher than TN 0.7%
Car-dependent both
Memphis FedEx → Boeing Defense aerospace logistics pivot
Sports — gain Cardinals/Blues, lose Grizzlies

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-55 N

285 miles. 4.5 hours / 1 day.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 285 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$2,500-$5,000
Container/PODS$1,800-$3,200
DIY (26-ft truck)$1,300-$2,500
Best monthsApr-Oct
Lead time4-6 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions