Moving into a first apartment usually takes more cash than the first month's rent. The money tends to fall into five groups: charges the landlord collects before move-in, utility setup, the move itself, furnishing, and the monthly budget after. The lease and each utility's own published rules set the exact amounts.
Moving into a first apartment usually takes more cash than the first month's rent. The money tends to fall into five groups: charges the landlord collects before move-in, utility setup, the move itself, furnishing, and the monthly budget after. The lease and each utility's own published rules set the exact amounts.
Written by Saleh Ihmoud, REALTOR®. Missouri license #2025005964, sponsored by Elevate Realty, 16141 Swingley Ridge Rd #201, Chesterfield, MO 63017, (314) 947-3137. Illinois license #475.218785, sponsored by Elevate Illinois Realty, 6 Ginger Creek Village Drive, Suite A, Glen Carbon, IL 62034, (618) 343-5444. Licensed in the State of Missouri and the State of Illinois. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This article is general education. It is not legal, tax, lending, insurance or financial advice. Rules and costs vary by state, city, property and lease.
What do renters in the area pay each month?
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes median gross rent for each county and for the City of St. Louis. The Bureau defines gross rent as "the contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.) if these are paid by the renter (or paid for the renter by someone else)."
| County | Median gross rent, 2020-2024 |
|---|---|
| St. Louis city, Missouri | $997 |
| St. Louis County, Missouri | $1,209 |
| St. Charles County, Missouri | $1,370 |
| St. Clair County, Illinois | $1,090 |
| Madison County, Illinois | $1,024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024, read 2026-10-19. These figures cover rented homes where rent is paid, over five years, not only first apartments and not current asking rents, so a specific listing can sit well above or below them. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
What do landlords commonly collect before move-in?
Landlords tend to collect money in stages, often starting before an application is approved. Not every landlord charges every item below, and the amounts vary by property. The signed lease sets the terms, and state and local law also apply to deposits and fees.
| Charge | When it usually comes up | What varies from lease to lease |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | At application, sometimes per adult | Whether it is refundable, and whether each applicant pays it |
| Administrative or processing fee | At application or signing | Often listed separately from the application fee |
| Security deposit | At lease signing | The amount, and the terms for its return |
| First month's rent | At or before move-in | Whether a mid-month move-in is prorated |
| Other move-in charges (pet, parking, amenity) | At lease signing | Whether each one is a one-time charge or a monthly fee |
Who provides utilities on each side of the river?
Which company serves an apartment depends on its exact address, and some utilities are included in rent. Each provider's own site describes the area it serves. Sources were read 2026-10-19.
| Service | Missouri side | Illinois side (Metro East) |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Ameren Missouri, whose service area includes the greater St. Louis region. Cuivre River Electric Cooperative serves members in Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties. Some cities run their own, such as Kirkwood Electric | Ameren Illinois, which delivers electricity across central and southern Illinois. Some addresses are served by a city or a cooperative |
| Natural gas | Spire, which lists the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County in its Eastern Missouri region. Ameren Missouri also supplies gas in some communities | Ameren Illinois, which serves gas customers in central and southern Illinois. Some cities run their own system, such as Waterloo |
| Water | City of St. Louis Water Division in the city. Missouri American Water runs a St. Louis County and St. Charles County system. Some cities and districts run their own | Illinois American Water, with regional offices in Alton and Belleville/Metro East. Some cities run their own, such as Highland |
| Sewer | MSD Project Clear in the City of St. Louis and most of St. Louis County. In St. Charles County, the provider depends on the city or district | The provider depends on the city or district |
| Internet | Usually set up by the tenant, with installation and equipment charges listed apart from the monthly price | Same |
The table covers the larger providers only. Some addresses are served by a city-run utility or another company, and in many buildings water, sewer or trash is billed through the landlord.
Ameren Missouri's own fact sheet says more than half of its roughly 1.3 million electric customers are in the greater St. Louis region (Ameren Missouri fact sheet, April 2025).
Can a utility ask a new customer for a deposit?
Some do. Ameren's start-service pages for Missouri and Illinois say deposits are sometimes required, including when a credit score does not meet its standard or a Social Security Number is not provided (Ameren says customers without one can arrange other proof of identification). For new service, Ameren states:
Deposits are assessed at two times the monthly average at the requested service location.
Ameren says the deposit appears on the first energy statement and, after 12 consecutive months with a good pay record, is applied to the account with interest. The same pages state that residential deposits are limited to one-sixth of the estimated annual service charges, and describe a separate rule for existing customers. Other utilities publish their own deposit rules.
Illinois: delivery company and supplier can be different
In its electric section, the Ameren Illinois fact sheet states that Ameren Illinois is a delivery-only utility. Plug In Illinois describes itself as the official electric choice website of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and the Commission's consumer page notes that some residential customers can buy natural gas supply from an alternative gas supplier.
Who regulates these companies?
- Missouri: the Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, natural gas, steam, water and sewer utilities, according to its About page. Its complaint page says it does not regulate the rates of municipally owned utilities, rural cooperatives or public water and sewer districts, and lists a Utility Consumer Hotline, 1-800-392-4211.
- Illinois: the Illinois Commerce Commission states that consumers can ask a question or file a complaint with the Commission.
Renters insurance is a separate line. Many leases require it, and coverage and pricing questions sit with a licensed insurance agent.
What do the move and furnishing cost?
The move and the furniture add a second set of costs on top of what the landlord collects. The usual ones:
- The move itself. Truck rental, movers, boxes, fuel and time off work. Moving quotes often carry mileage charges or minimum hours on top of the base price.
- Day-one basics. A bed, cleaning supplies, a shower curtain, basic kitchen items, and groceries to stock an empty fridge.
- Everything else. Many first apartments are furnished over months rather than in the first week.
How do rent-to-own and buy now, pay later work?
Rent-to-own stores rent furniture or electronics weekly or monthly, with an option to buy. In 2011 testimony, the Federal Trade Commission described concerns raised by consumer advocates and others about "the prices charged for buying RTO merchandise, which can be two to three times higher than retail price."
Buy now, pay later splits a purchase into installments. Late-fee terms differ by plan, and several small plans open at once can add up to one large monthly total.
Plan terms state the total paid over the plan's life and the late-fee terms. Questions about a specific plan sit with a nonprofit credit counselor.
What goes into the monthly budget after move-in?
Rent is the largest monthly line, not the only one. The common recurring costs:
- Rent, plus any monthly fees in the lease (parking, pet, trash, amenities)
- Utilities in the tenant's name: electric, gas, water if separate, internet
- Renters insurance
- Transportation: car payment, insurance and fuel, or transit
- Groceries and household supplies
- Payment plans from furnishing the place
- Irregular costs that do not arrive as a monthly bill: repairs, car problems, the next move
The security deposit is paid at signing and held by the landlord under the lease terms and state law, so it is part of the move-in total rather than money available afterward.
What does a lease usually spell out about money?
The lease is the contract, and it answers many of the money questions in this guide. State, federal and local law also apply, and the attorney general guides below describe the state rules. Leases commonly cover:
- The total due before move-in, by item
- Which utilities are included in rent and which are in the tenant's name
- The terms for returning the security deposit
- Monthly fees beyond rent
- Whether renters insurance is required, and at what coverage
- What happens if the lease ends early
- How the unit's condition is recorded at move-in
For most housing built before 1978, the EPA states that renters have the right to learn whether lead-based paint or lead hazards are present before signing a lease, and that landlords provide the pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home.
Renting is also covered by fair housing law. The site's fair housing page lists where complaints go.
Where the official landlord-tenant guides live
Each state's attorney general publishes a plain-language guide:
- Missouri: Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law, Missouri Attorney General, revised September 2025
- Illinois: Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, Illinois Attorney General, dated January 2024 and may not reflect later amendments
A real estate agent can explain the renting and buying process but cannot give legal advice. Questions about a specific lease sit with an attorney or a local legal aid office.
How does a first apartment connect to buying a home later?
A first apartment and a first home purchase share a shape: a signed contract, an up-front cash total that runs past the headline price, and costs that continue after move-in. These guides cover the buying side:
- The true cost of home ownership in St. Louis
- The first-time home buyer's guide to buying in St. Louis
- How long does it take to buy a home in St. Louis?
This guide sits in Life Navigation.
The St. Louis First Apartment Checklist
The checklist collects the costs in this guide into one printable list, with the Missouri and Illinois details in separate sections. The printable checklist.
Sources and dates. All pages read 2026-10-19 unless noted. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, median gross rent 2020-2024, and its gross rent definition. Ameren Missouri About us and fact sheet (April 2025). Ameren start-stop-move FAQs for Missouri and Illinois. Ameren Illinois fact sheet (March 2026). Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, Your Cooperative. Spire, Contact us. City of Kirkwood, Kirkwood Electric. City of Waterloo, Natural gas. City of Highland, Utilities. City of St. Louis Water Division. Missouri American Water, St. Louis County and St. Charles County water quality report (2023). Illinois American Water, Who we are fact sheet. MSD Project Clear, About. Missouri Public Service Commission, About and How to submit a complaint. Plug In Illinois. Illinois Commerce Commission, Consumers. U.S. EPA, Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards. Federal Trade Commission, rent-to-own testimony (July 26, 2011). Missouri Attorney General, Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law (revised September 2025). Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (January 2024). Each source is linked where it is cited. Rates, rules and service areas change, and the linked sources are the current authority on each.
Frequently asked questions
Is first month's rent the only money needed to move into an apartment?
Usually not. Many landlords also collect an application fee, a security deposit and other move-in charges, and utilities in the tenant's name can carry their own deposits. The signed lease and each utility's published rules set the amounts.
Which utility companies serve St. Louis apartments?
It depends on the address. On the Missouri side, Ameren Missouri's service area includes the greater St. Louis region, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative serves members in St. Charles County and four other counties, and Spire lists the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County for natural gas. Ameren Illinois delivers electricity and natural gas across central and southern Illinois. Some cities on both sides run their own utilities, and water comes from a city utility or a company such as Missouri American Water or Illinois American Water.
Can a utility company require a deposit from a new customer?
Some do. Ameren's published pages say deposits are sometimes required, for example when a credit score does not meet its standard, are assessed at two times the monthly average at the service location, and are limited to one-sixth of estimated annual service charges. Other utilities publish their own deposit rules.
Where do Missouri and Illinois renters find official landlord-tenant information?
Each state's attorney general publishes a plain-language guide. Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law was revised in September 2025, and the Illinois guide, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, is dated January 2024 and may not reflect later amendments. Questions about a specific lease sit with an attorney or a local legal aid office.
How much can rent-to-own furniture cost compared with retail?
In 2011 testimony, the Federal Trade Commission described concerns raised by consumer advocates and others that prices for buying rent-to-own merchandise can be two to three times higher than retail.
What is the median rent in the St. Louis area?
For five parts of the St. Louis area, the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024 put median gross rent, which includes estimated utilities, at $997 in St. Louis city, $1,209 in St. Louis County and $1,370 in St. Charles County, Missouri, and $1,090 in St. Clair County and $1,024 in Madison County, Illinois, in the Metro East. The figures cover rented homes where rent is paid, not current asking rents. Read 2026-10-19. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.