B-
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
15%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index West St. Paul Minnesota National
Cost of living10299100
Goods & Services96100100
Groceries9998100
Health care101109100
Housing115100100
Transportation9897100
Utilities9493100

An Overview of Cost of Living in West St. Paul, MN

Knowing the cost of living in West St. Paul allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in West St. Paul stands at 102, marking it 2% higher than the national average.

In West St. Paul, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in West St. Paul will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in West St. Paul?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in West St. Paul. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is West St. Paul Affordable?

Is West St. Paul an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in West St. Paul, the median home price is 16.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 10.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in West St. Paul come in at $57,142, which is 3.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in West St. Paul?

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in West St. Paul, is 14.7% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In West St. Paul, the transportation index is 2.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The West St. Paul cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in West St. Paul is 3% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in West St. Paul is 2% higher than the national average
  • West St. Paul housing is 15% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 137% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around West St. Paul

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Compare West St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$83,054$6,921$1,938$2,492
      Renters$33,882$2,824$791$1,017
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in West St. Paul, MN, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in West St. Paul have a median income of $83,054. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,938 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $33,882, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $791.

      Minnesota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Minnesota 6.875% 7.875%

      Minnesota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Minnesota 5.35% 9.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.67$24.2618.2%
      Beauty Salon $34.55$45.5624.2%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $13.47$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $21.50$18.0019.4%

      Groceries

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.49$5.845.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.2%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.8%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.3%
      Beer $9.36$10.4110.1%

      Health Care

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $145.44$125.6815.7%
      Doctor $229.08$135.7868.7%
      Dentist $108.67$113.294.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $599.08$468.6027.8%

      Housing

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Home Price $215,500.00$184,700.0016.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,941.44$2,346.6917.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,045.00$949.0010.1%

      Transportation

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.38$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $61.74$59.923.0%

      Utilities

      Item West St. Paul National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.38$193.999.6%
      Phone $187.39$192.252.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Houlton, WI105973.3%
      Landfall, MN7967030.3%
      South End, MN657525.2%
      Hilltop, MN1,0077722.8%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1068019.7%
      West St. Paul, MN19,8051022.1%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mililani Mauka, HI19,80819595.0%
      Painesville, OH19,8178812.1%
      West Hempstead, NY19,78715655.5%
      Belle Glade, FL19,829918.6%
      Seymour, IN19,780919.1%
      West St. Paul, MN19,8051022.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.