Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 12% higher in St. Paul, MN. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$995
+10% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,126
+4% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$1,384
+9% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$1,662
+15% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$280,300
+45% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$73,055
+14% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$59,320
+19% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
33.5 yr
about equal
Homeownership
47.2%
53.2%
+6.0 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
43.5%
+4.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
23.1 min
22.3 min
+0.8 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
619
+42% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,315.7
2,897.2
+25% 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
51.8°F
47.1°F
+4.7°F in Pittsburgh, PA
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
28.5 in
+10.8 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
16.9
+21% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$14.95
+22% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
9.85%
+6.8 pp in MN

Pittsburgh vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or St. Paul?
They're close. Pittsburgh, PA runs about $1,300 a month and St. Paul, MN about $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or St. Paul?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).