Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,055 in St. Paul, MN and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 31% higher in Washington, DC. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

St. Paul, MN
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$995
$1,763
+77% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$1,885
+67% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$1,949
+41% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$2,249
+35% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$724,600
+159% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$106,287
+45% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$71,060
+20% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
34.9 yr
+1.4 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
53.2%
41.1%
+12.1 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
63.6%
+20.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
22.3 min
30.3 min
+8.0 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
936.3
+51% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,897.2
3,627.9
+25% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+11.1°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
39.7 in
+11.2 in in Washington, DC

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
25.4
+50% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$22.01
+47% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
6.875%
6%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
10.75%
+0.9 pp in DC

St. Paul vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or Washington?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in Washington?
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 Washington.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or Washington?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).