Moving from Phoenix to St. Louis

The Story

Phoenix-to-St. Louis is Boeing Defense + Wash U medical move. AZ 2.5% → MO 5.95% costs $3,450/yr. Housing 47% CHEAPER ($440K → $235K), COL 23% lower. Pull: Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production (Phoenix aerospace bridge), Washington University medical (top NIH funding), Anheuser-Busch HQ, Cardinals/Blues sports passion.

Why This Move

Why people move from Phoenix to St. Louis.

Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production
Phoenix aerospace (Honeywell, Boeing AH-64) → Boeing STL Defense direct
Washington University medical — top NIH-funded research
Anheuser-Busch HQ + Edward Jones
BJC HealthCare + Mercy networks
47% cheaper housing — major savings
Cardinals + Blues sports passion
Less brutal heat than Phoenix

Cost Comparison

The money side of AZ → MO.

Phoenix

Median home$440,000
Income tax2.5% (AZ flat)
Cost index109

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 Phoenix transplants.

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

Central West End

If Roosevelt Row was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
Soulard

If Downtown Phoenix was your vibe — walkable, breweries
The Hill

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

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

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

If Scottsdale 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.

AZ 2.5% becomes MO 5.95% — costs $3,450/year on $100K
Housing 47% CHEAPER — $440K Phoenix becomes $235K STL
COL 23% lower — major improvement
Climate flips desert dry to humid continental — real winters
Property tax MO 1.0% higher than AZ 0.6%
Car-dependent both
Phoenix aerospace → Boeing STL Defense direct career bridge
Sports — gain Cardinals/Blues, lose Suns/Diamondbacks

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-17 N to I-40 E to I-44 E

1,480 miles via Flagstaff, Albuquerque, OKC. 22 hours / 3 days.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 1,480 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$6,500-$11,500
Container/PODS$4,500-$7,200
DIY (26-ft truck)$3,500-$5,800
Best monthsApr-Oct (avoid winter)
Lead time8-10 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions