Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or St. Paul?

Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Paul?

Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Columbus vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 22% higher in St. Paul, MN. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$826

$995

+20% in St. Paul, MN

1 Bedroom

$875

$1,126

+29% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,384

+40% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,221

$1,662

+36% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$182,300

$280,300

+54% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$56,622

$73,055

+29% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,540

$59,320

+36% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

33.5 yr

+1.6 yr in Columbus, GA

Homeownership

50.2%

53.2%

+3.0 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.7%

43.5%

+13.8 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.3 min

+2.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

612.3

619

+1% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

2,273.4

2,897.2

+27% in St. Paul, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.7°F

47.1°F

+18.6°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

46.8 in

28.5 in

+18.2 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.8

16.9

+7% in St. Paul, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$14.95

+55% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

9.85%

+4.7 pp in MN

Columbus vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or St. Paul?: Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Paul?: Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).