Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 7% higher in St. Paul, MN. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$769
$995
+29% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,126
+27% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,384
+24% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,662
+18% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$280,300
+3% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$73,055
+8% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$59,320
+22% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Lexington, KY
Homeownership
53.6%
53.2%
+0.4 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
43.5%
+3.8 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.3 min
+1.5 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
619
+130% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,304.4
2,897.2
+26% 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
55.6°F
47.1°F
+8.5°F in Lexington, KY
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
28.5 in
+16.7 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.9
+13% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$14.95
+49% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
9.85%
+6.3 pp in MN

Lexington vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or St. Paul?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington 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 Lexington versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or St. Paul?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).