Living Cost Compare
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 26% 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.

Paterson, NJ
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$786
$995
+27% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,126
+5% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,468
$1,384
+6% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$1,662
+4% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$335,400
$280,300
+16% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$53,766
$73,055
+36% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$59,320
+3% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.3 yr
33.5 yr
+0.2 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
26.2%
53.2%
+27.0 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
12.5%
43.5%
+31.0 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
23.1 min
22.3 min
+0.8 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,010.1
619
+39% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,391.4
2,897.2
+21% 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
52.2°F
47.1°F
+5.1°F in Paterson, NJ
Annual Precipitation
49.0 in
28.5 in
+20.5 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

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

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
17.5
+30% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$14.79
+16% in Paterson, NJ

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 Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Paterson, 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

Paterson vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or St. Paul?
Paterson 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).