Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 38% higher in St. Paul, MN. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$973
$995
+2% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,126
+8% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,384
+7% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,662
+16% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$280,300
+29% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$73,055
+61% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$59,320
+1% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.1 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
25.7%
53.2%
+27.5 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
43.5%
+25.2 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.3 min
+0.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
619
+17% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,949.2
2,897.2
+2% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
47.1°F
+4.1°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
28.5 in
+15.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.96/gal
+0% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
17.5
+28% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$14.79
+37% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / MN)
6.35%
6.875%
+0.5 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
9.85%
+2.9 pp in MN

Hartford vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or St. Paul?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford 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 Hartford versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or St. Paul?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).