Living Cost Compare
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN versus $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 17% higher in Rochester, MN. Both cities are in Minnesota, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,080
$995
+8% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,106
$1,126
+2% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,243
$1,384
+11% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,646
$1,662
+1% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$287,500
$280,300
+3% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$87,767
$73,055
+17% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,620
$59,320
+2% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.5 yr
+2.9 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.4%
53.2%
+12.2 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.1%
43.5%
+6.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
17.2 min
22.3 min
+5.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
158.9
619
+290% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,379
2,897.2
+110% 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
45.4°F
47.1°F
+1.7°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
33.0 in
28.5 in
+4.5 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
16.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$14.95
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / MN)
6.875%
6.875%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
9.85%
about equal

Rochester vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or St. Paul?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or St. Paul?
Neither — both are in Minnesota, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).