Living Cost Compare
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, 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 $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 14% 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
Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio
$995
$726
+27% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,126
$761
+32% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,384
$976
+29% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,662
$1,199
+28% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$280,300
$179,500
+36% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$73,055
$63,072
+14% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$47,630
+20% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.7 yr
+2.2 yr in Wichita, KS
Homeownership
53.2%
58.4%
+5.2 pp in Wichita, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.5%
30.9%
+12.6 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
18.9 min
+3.4 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
619
1,238.7
+100% in Wichita, KS
Property Crime
2,897.2
5,284.9
+82% in Wichita, 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
57.0°F
+9.9°F in Wichita, KS
Annual Precipitation
28.5 in
32.6 in
+4.1 in in Wichita, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
15.1
+11% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$25.12
+68% in Wichita, 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 Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Paul or Wichita?
Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Paul than in Wichita?
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 Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, St. Paul or Wichita?
St. Paul is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Wichita 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).