Is St. Paul expensive to live in?

St. Paul is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,126 per month ranks #52 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in St. Paul?

Average rent in St. Paul, MN runs a studio around $995, a one-bedroom around $1,126, a two-bedroom around $1,384, a three-bedroom around $1,662 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in St. Paul?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,126 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year. The median household income here is $73,055.

How much does it cost to live in St. Paul per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in St. Paul is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in St. Paul, MN

Population 307,762 · Minnesota

~$1,300/mo est.1BR $1,126Home $280,300

Photo: Javier Quiroga / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in St. Paul, MN is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,126 a month — about the same as the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $995 and two-bedrooms $1,384.

Median household income here is $73,055, 5% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,300 before food and transport. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,126

Studio

$995

1 Bedroom

$1,126

2 Bedroom

$1,384

3 Bedroom

$1,662

Buying a Home$280,300

Median Home Value

$280,300

Income$73,055

Median Household Income

$73,055

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,320

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.9¢/kWh

Electricity

16.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$14.95/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.95/gal

Regular Gasoline (Minnesota)

$3.95/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MN)6.875% sales

State Sales Tax

6.88%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 9.85%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime619 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

619

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,897.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, St. Paul Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.5 yrs

Median Age

33.5 yrs

Homeownership

53.2%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

43.5%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Climate47.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

47.1°F

Annual Precipitation

28.5 in

St. Paul cost of living — FAQ

Is St. Paul expensive to live in?: St. Paul is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,126 per month ranks #52 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in St. Paul?: Average rent in St. Paul, MN runs a studio around $995, a one-bedroom around $1,126, a two-bedroom around $1,384, a three-bedroom around $1,662 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in St. Paul?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,126 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year. The median household income here is $73,055.
How much does it cost to live in St. Paul per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in St. Paul is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare St. Paul with nearby cities

St. Paul vs Minneapolis St. Paul vs Rochester St. Paul vs Sioux Falls St. Paul vs Fargo St. Paul vs Madison St. Paul vs Des Moines

Nearby cities

Minneapolis, MN 9 mi Rochester, MN 72 mi Sioux Falls, SD 205 mi Fargo, ND 222 mi Madison, WI 225 mi Des Moines, IA 234 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.