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With a population of 330,000 and a cost of living 23% below the national average, St. Louis boasts a great combination of big-city amenities with small-town costs, and friendly people to boot. Known for its restaurants, sports and the iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis is a great city to explore apartments for rent and considering making your new home.

Quality of Life
The most recognizable feature of St. Louis is the Gateway Arch, symbol of the city and the nation's tallest man-made monument. The 630-foot-tall stainless-steel arch stands on the banks of the Mississippi River and symbolizes that St. Louis is the gateway to the West.

Other attractions stretch the gamut from museums and galleries to wineries and eclectic restaurants, to riverboat gaming and pro sports (baseball and football are represented by the popular St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams). Cultural points of interest include a symphony orchestra, municipal opera, the Jefferson Memorial Building and the historic Anheuser Busch headquarters and brewery. A family-friendly destination that kids love is Forest Park, which houses an open-air theater, zoo and planetarium.

Where the Jobs Are
St. Louis's economy depends in large part upon manufacturing. Major products include automobiles, aircraft and space technology, metal fabrication, beer, steel, chemicals, food processing, and storage and distribution. Banking and other financial concerns are also major employers. The most job growth is occurring in non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation/public utilities, wholesale/retail trade and services.

Cost of Living & Apartment Prices
Missouri is a welcoming state in many ways, one of which is its affordability. It has the 11th-lowest cost of living in the nation, with housing costs at 20% below the national average. If you're looking for apartments for rent, here's more good news: Across the state, average apartment rentals are 700 square feet and go for an average of $500 rent per month. In St. Louis itself, apartments go for a median rent of $535 per month, and the average rent for two-bedroom apartment rentals is $665 per month.

Neighborhoods to Explore
When it comes to exploring neighborhoods with apartments for rent, take your pick of a cool loft downtown, a posh condo in the Central West End or more basic apartments in one of St. Louis's 79 neighborhoods. In the Central West End, you'll enjoy nearby theaters, museums, nightlife and Forest Park, the second-largest park in the nation. You can expect to pay from $500 for studio apartments up to several thousand dollars for large, luxurious apartments. Another option is University City, which borders St. Louis and is surrounded by three universities, including the prestigious Washington University. Rents are cheaper here, with studio apartments starting at $350 per month and three-bedroom apartments going for about $1,000 per month.