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

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or St. Paul?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Rutland vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 25% higher in St. Paul, MN. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$893

$995

+11% in St. Paul, MN

1 Bedroom

$856

$1,126

+32% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,384

+26% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,662

+38% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$280,300

+59% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$73,055

+33% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$59,320

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

33.5 yr

+15.0 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

53.2%

+0.5 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

43.5%

+11.3 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

14.7 min

22.3 min

+7.6 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

619

+27% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

3,973.3

2,897.2

+27% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

47.1°F

+2.5°F in St. Paul, MN

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

28.5 in

+11.9 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

17.5

+28% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$14.79

+43% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

9.85%

+1.1 pp in MN

Rutland vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or St. Paul?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or St. Paul?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).