Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in St. Paul, MN versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,055 in St. Paul, MN and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 23% higher in St. Paul, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

St. Paul, MN
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$995
$702
+29% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$758
+33% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$977
+29% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$1,177
+29% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$130,600
+53% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$55,902
+23% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$49,540
+16% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
38.2 yr
+4.7 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
53.2%
59.2%
+6.0 pp in Topeka, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
29.1%
+14.4 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
16.7 min
+5.6 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
856.5
+38% in Topeka, KS
Property Crime
2,897.2
3,660.2
+26% in Topeka, KS

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
55.1°F
+8.0°F in Topeka, KS
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
36.5 in
+7.9 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.85/gal
+3% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.7
+10% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.79
$25.12
+70% in Topeka, KS

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 / KS)
6.875%
6.5%
+0.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
5.58%
+4.3 pp in MN

St. Paul vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in St. Paul versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or Topeka?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).