Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in St. Paul, MN versus $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,055 in St. Paul, MN and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 30% higher in San Diego, CA. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

St. Paul, MN
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$995
$1,737
+75% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$1,883
+67% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$2,348
+70% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$2,818
+70% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$848,500
+203% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$104,321
+43% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$58,690
+1% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
36.0 yr
+2.5 yr in San Diego, CA
Homeownership
53.2%
47.6%
+5.6 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
49.9%
+6.4 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
22.3 min
23.9 min
+1.6 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
414.3
+33% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,897.2
1,693.6
+42% 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
47.1°F
63.6°F
+16.5°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
10.3 in
+18.2 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in San Diego, CA

Area: Minnesota vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
33.3
+96% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$20.72
+39% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in St. Paul, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Diego, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / CA)
6.875%
7.25%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
13.30%
+3.5 pp in CA

St. Paul vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or San Diego?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in St. Paul versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or San Diego?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).