Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,055 in St. Paul, MN and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 18% higher in West Valley City, UT. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

St. Paul, MN
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$995
$1,085
+9% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$1,191
+6% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$1,333
+4% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$1,723
+4% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$377,300
+35% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$88,604
+21% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$55,240
+7% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
30.3 yr
+3.2 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
53.2%
71.1%
+17.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
15.7%
+27.8 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
22.2 min
+0.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
471.8
+24% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,897.2
1,855.5
+36% 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
52.8°F
+5.7°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
16.1 in
+12.4 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Minnesota vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
13.4
+24% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.79
$11.84
+20% in St. Paul, MN

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / UT)
6.875%
6.1%
+0.8 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.50%
+5.3 pp in MN

St. Paul vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or West Valley City?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in St. Paul versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or West Valley City?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).