Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 3% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$995
+16% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,126
+10% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,384
+2% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,662
+7% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$280,300
+11% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$73,055
+3% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$59,320
+8% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.5 yr
+2.2 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
53.2%
+7.7 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
43.5%
+0.2 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
33.5 min
22.3 min
+11.2 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
619
+15% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,897.2
+17% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
47.1°F
+5.6°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
28.5 in
+9.4 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.95/gal
+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
16.9
+29% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$14.95
+3% in Chicago, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MN)
6.25%
6.875%
+0.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
9.85%
+4.9 pp in MN

Chicago vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or St. Paul?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).