Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 11% higher in St. Paul, MN. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$995
+2% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,126
+6% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,384
+8% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,662
+21% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$280,300
+20% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$73,055
+12% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$59,320
+16% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.5 yr
+0.5 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
44.3%
53.2%
+8.9 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
43.5%
+5.3 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
21.8 min
22.3 min
+0.5 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
619
+28% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,897.2
+6% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
28.5 in
+11.6 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.95/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
16.9
+13% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$14.95
+35% in Columbus, OH

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 (OH / MN)
5.75%
6.875%
+1.1 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
9.85%
+7.1 pp in MN

Columbus vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or St. Paul?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% 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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Paul?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).