Is it cheaper to live in Newark or St. Paul?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or St. Paul?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Newark vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 34% higher in St. Paul, MN. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$995

+10% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,126

+15% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,384

+0% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,662

+2% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$280,300

+17% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$73,055

+51% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$59,320

+3% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

33.5 yr

+1.3 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

24.1%

53.2%

+29.1 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

43.5%

+26.1 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

33.2 min

22.3 min

+10.9 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

619

+6% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

1,961.8

2,897.2

+48% 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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

28.5 in

+17.7 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

16.9

+27% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$14.95

+6% in Newark, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MN)

6.625%

6.875%

+0.3 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

9.85%

+0.9 pp in NJ

Newark vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or St. Paul?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or St. Paul?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).