Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,055 in St. Paul, MN and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 19% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

St. Paul, MN
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$995
$1,496
+50% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$1,357
+21% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$1,559
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$1,857
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$366,300
+31% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$90,685
+24% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$49,430
+17% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
37.4 yr
+3.9 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
53.2%
64.9%
+11.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
40.4%
+3.1 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
23.2 min
+0.9 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
96.9
+84% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,897.2
1,664.9
+43% 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
59.9°F
+12.8°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
44.3 in
+15.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
17.6
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$23.66
+58% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in St. Paul, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in St. Paul, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in St. Paul, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / VA)
6.875%
5.3%
+1.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
5.75%
+4.1 pp in MN

St. Paul vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or Virginia Beach?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in St. Paul versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or Virginia Beach?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).