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

St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in St. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Richmond or St. Paul?

Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Richmond vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 14% higher in St. Paul, MN. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,183

$995

+16% in Richmond, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,126

+6% in Richmond, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,374

$1,384

+1% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,447

$1,662

+15% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$328,100

$280,300

+15% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$62,671

$73,055

+17% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,460

$59,320

+15% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

33.5 yr

+1.0 yr in Richmond, VA

Homeownership

43.5%

53.2%

+9.7 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.1%

43.5%

+0.6 pp in Richmond, VA

Avg Commute

22.1 min

22.3 min

+0.2 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

349

619

+77% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

3,240.2

2,897.2

+11% in Richmond, VA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

58.9°F

47.1°F

+11.8°F in Richmond, VA

Annual Precipitation

43.6 in

28.5 in

+15.1 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.6

16.9

+4% in Richmond, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.66

$14.95

+37% in Richmond, VA

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 Richmond, VA

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / MN)

5.3%

6.875%

+1.6 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.75%

9.85%

+4.1 pp in MN

Richmond vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or St. Paul?: St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or St. Paul?: Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).