Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 9% higher in St. Paul, MN. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$995
+7% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,126
+8% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,384
+7% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,662
+2% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$280,300
+20% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$73,055
+9% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$59,320
+26% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.5 yr
+1.1 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
49.7%
53.2%
+3.5 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
43.5%
+18.6 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
22.3 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
742.2
619
+17% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,335.3
2,897.2
+13% in Fresno, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
47.1°F
+17.3°F in Fresno, CA
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
28.5 in
+17.0 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.95/gal
+27% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
16.9
+49% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$14.95
+28% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in St. Paul, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MN)
7.25%
6.875%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.85%
+3.5 pp in CA

Fresno vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno 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 Fresno versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or St. Paul?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).