Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 7% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$995
+30% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,126
+18% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,384
+7% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,662
+0% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$280,300
+20% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$73,055
+7% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$59,320
+19% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.9 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
51.5%
53.2%
+1.7 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
43.5%
+3.9 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
22.3 min
+2.7 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
619
+16% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
2,897.2
+22% in Charlotte, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
47.1°F
+12.8°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
28.5 in
+13.1 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
16.9
+12% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$14.95
+46% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Paul, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charlotte, NC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Paul, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Paul, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / MN)
4.75%
6.875%
+2.1 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
9.85%
+5.9 pp in MN

Charlotte vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or St. Paul?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).