What is the cost of living in South St. Paul, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South St. Paul has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, South St. Paul has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in South St. Paul ranks as #44 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies South St. Paul ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in South St. Paul, check out:
South St. Paul Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South St. Paul. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South St. Paul is 101.
The Groceries index in South St. Paul is 102.
The Health index in South St. Paul is 109.
The Housing index in South St. Paul is 99.
The Transportation index in South St. Paul is 100.
The Utilities index in South St. Paul is 101.
| Living Expense | South St. Paul | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 109 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
South St. Paul Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in South St. Paul Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South St. Paul, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South St. Paul is $295,754.
The Median Rent in South St. Paul is $1,199.
The Median Income in South St. Paul is $87,994.
The Home Value To Income in South St. Paul is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South St. Paul is 0.16x.
| Statistic | South St. Paul | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $295,754 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,199 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,994 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
South St. Paul, MN Costs By Category
Detailed South St. Paul Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | South St. Paul | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $34.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed South St. Paul Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | South St. Paul | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.49 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed South St. Paul Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | South St. Paul | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $145.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $229.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed South St. Paul Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | South St. Paul | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed South St. Paul Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | South St. Paul | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.39 | $192.25 |
South St. Paul SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South St. Paul
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South St. Paul. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
St. Paul, MN has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x South St. Paul.
Woodbury, MN has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x South St. Paul.
Lakeville, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.2x South St. Paul.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South St. Paul |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul, MN | 307,284 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Woodbury, MN | 78,305 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Lakeville, MN | 74,354 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Eagan, MN | 68,000 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Apple Valley, MN | 55,679 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Edina, MN | 53,262 | 141 | 1.4x |
| Inver Grove Heights, MN | 35,906 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Golden Valley, MN | 21,725 | 122 | 1.2x |
| West St. Paul, MN | 21,382 | 103 | 1.0x |
