Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 2% higher in St. Paul, MN. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$995
+40% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,126
+19% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,384
+9% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,662
+13% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$280,300
+22% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$73,055
+2% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$59,320
+9% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
33.5 yr
+11.5 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
50.3%
53.2%
+2.9 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
43.5%
+14.0 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.3 min
+2.7 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
619
+90% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,897.2
+43% 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
54.9°F
47.1°F
+7.8°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
28.5 in
+14.6 in in Newark, DE

Gas

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

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
17.5
+9% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$14.79
+50% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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 (DE / MN)
None
6.875%
+6.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
9.85%
+3.3 pp in MN

Newark vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or St. Paul?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).