St. Louis Suburban Living: Affordable Rentals Within a Short Commute to Downtown

For those who visit or move here, St. Louis almost always exceeds expectations, but to insiders it’s pretty obvious why the city they lovingly call “The Lou” is a great place to call home. From its world-class arts and cultural institutions like the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum – all free of charge – to the World Series champion team, the Cardinals — a culture in itself and a source of pride for this city –, plus a diverse selection of restaurants, live music venues and a magnificent urban park that’s larger than Central Park, St. Louis is pretty awesome.

Though generally a moderately-priced city, St. Louis rentals average $1,230 for a 2-bedroom apartment. If you’re looking for a more affordable rental in the St. Louis area, in a nice, quiet neighborhood, with good schools and a homey feel, but also not far from the urban core, we have some hard-to-refuse suggestions for you. These 4 popular suburbs offer great apartments for rent, they’re within 30 minutes driving of downtown St. Louis, and they’re actually cheaper than renting in the city:

Chesterfield, MO

Commute time to downtown St. Louis: 26 minutes (22.3 miles)
Best Find: Village Green 1-bedroom units start at $828 for 638 sq. ft, 2-bedroom units start at $900 for 836 sq. ft, and 3-bedroom units start at $1,150 for 1,228 sq. ft. (check availability)
Perks: Outdoor pool, tennis court, business center with conference room, and sauna

This Western suburb offers some unique attractions – Sachs Butterfly House, Skyzone Trampoline Park or the Chesterfield Antique Mall – but also good schools and friendly neighborhoods. Quiet rolling hills with beautiful residential communities coexist with plentiful shopping, business and culture venues in perfect harmony. Bug hunters and bargain hunters alike will love the Chesterfield apartment community of Village Green. The apartments are not only affordable, they also have generous floor plans and provide access to more amenities than you could wish for.

Creve Coeur, MO

Commute to downtown St. Louis: 20 minutes (15 miles) 
Best Find: Vicino on the Lake 1-bedrooms starting at $794 for 697 sq. ft., 2-bedrooms starting at $1,039 for 1,252 sq. ft., 3-bedrooms starting at $1,417 for 1,763 sq. ft. (check availability) 
Perks: 3 outdoor swimming pools, indoor heated lap pool, state-of-art fitness center, lighted tennis courts, in-unit washer and dryer

If you’re looking for a diverse, energetic, and friendly town, Creve Couer is for you. The community received the 2016 Muni Award for Art and Culture from the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis, a nod to the city’s public arts efforts. For nature enthusiasts, the 6-mile Creve Coeur Water Trail invites residents to explore the area by canoe, kayak or paddleboard, with beautiful parks located around the lake. An active lifestyle-oriented apartment community, Vicino on the Lake has a 2.5-acre lake with fountains, lighted tennis courts, indoor heated lap pool, walking trails around the lake, sand volleyball court and three outdoor swimming pools.

Maryland Heights, MO

Commute time to downtown St. Louis: 25 minutes (21.2 miles)
Best Find: Cedar Trace 1-bedroom apartments start at $755 for 688 sq. ft, 2-bedrooms start at $830 for 901 sq. ft., and 3-bedrooms are $1,195 for 1,530 sq. ft. (check availability) 
Perks: 2 outdoor swimming pools, 24-hour fitness center, 11 on-site laundry facilities, playground

Located in beautiful West St. Louis County roughly 25 minutes from the heart of St. Louis, Maryland Heights is a place whose residents enjoy waterparks, casinos, amphitheaters, nightlife, and the Historic Aircraft Museum, in addition to Creve Coeur Park and Lake. Cedar Trace Apartment Homes combines quality, comfort and convenience, offering a 24-hour fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and garage parking. Resident families benefit from living in a AAA-rated school district.

Clayton Hadley, MO

Commute time to downtown St. Louis: 14 minutes (9.1 miles)
Best Find: Stanford Place studios from $796 for 548 sq. ft, a 1-bedroom, 1,021 sq. ft. apartment rents for $1,087, 2-bedrooms from the $700’s for 850 sq. ft. to $1,200’s for a 1,152 sq. ft. townhome (check availability)
Perks: pet-friendly apartment community, pool, fitness center, economical gas heat and central a/c, Webster Groves School District

They say that Clayton is St. Louis’s second downtown, with world-class dining, fine art galleries and fancy boutiques, a walkable area only 14 minute from the core of St. Louis.  The apartment homes at Stanford Park are just minutes from the gorgeous Tilles Park, and from great shopping and dining. They offer private entrances, large closets, storage space, wood flooring, and much more.