B-
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
14%
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 St. Paul Minnesota National
Cost of living10299100
Goods & Services96100100
Groceries9998100
Health care101109100
Housing114100100
Transportation9897100
Utilities9493100

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

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in St. Paul? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in St. Paul stands at 102, making it 2% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in St. Paul aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. St. Paul residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

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

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 15 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in St. Paul. The results indicated that 27% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 73% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is St. Paul Affordable?

Is St. Paul affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take St. Paul, for instance, where the median home price falls 17.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with St. Paul flaunting a median household income of $59,717, 7.9% higher than the national norm.

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

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In St. Paul, the utilities index is 6.4% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In St. Paul, healthcare costs are 0.7% 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 St. Paul, the transportation index is 2.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. Paul is 3% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in St. Paul is 2% higher than the national average
  • St. Paul housing is 14% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 106% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around St. Paul

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Compare 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$87,889$7,324$2,051$2,637
      Renters$38,334$3,195$894$1,150
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in St. Paul, MN, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In St. Paul, homeowners have a median income of $87,889. Using that number, a maximum of $2,051 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $38,334, which means there is a maximum of $894 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 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 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 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 St. Paul National avg. Difference
      Home Price $217,100.00$184,700.0017.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,941.44$2,346.6917.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,013.00$949.006.7%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item 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.
      Landfall, MN7967030.3%
      South End, MN657525.2%
      Hilltop, MN1,0077722.8%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1068019.7%
      Columbia Heights, MN20,247991.3%
      St. Paul, MN305,8771022.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      St. Louis, MO304,709909.8%
      Cincinnati, OH302,687954.7%
      Henderson, NV309,95511818.3%
      Pittsburgh, PA301,286954.8%
      Stockton, CA311,10312525.1%
      St. Paul, MN305,8771022.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.