What is the cost of living in St. Paul, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Paul has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, St. Paul has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in St. Paul ranks as #56 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies St. Paul ranks as the #95 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in St. Paul, check out:
St. Paul Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Paul. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Paul is 98.
The Groceries index in St. Paul is 105.
The Health index in St. Paul is 112.
The Housing index in St. Paul is 99.
The Transportation index in St. Paul is 107.
The Utilities index in St. Paul is 95.
| Living Expense | St. Paul | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
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 St. Paul Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 St. Paul is $293,972.
The Median Rent in St. Paul is $1,281.
The Median Income in St. Paul is $73,394.
The Home Value To Income in St. Paul is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Paul is 0.21x.
St. Paul, MN Costs By Category
Detailed St. Paul Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Paul Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Paul Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Paul Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
St. Paul SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Paul
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Paul. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plymouth, MN has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x St. Paul.
Woodbury, MN has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x St. Paul.
Lakeville, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.2x St. Paul.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Paul |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, MN | 79,220 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Woodbury, MN | 78,305 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Lakeville, MN | 74,354 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Eden Prairie, MN | 63,051 | 128 | 1.2x |
| Apple Valley, MN | 55,679 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Edina, MN | 53,262 | 141 | 1.4x |
| Minnetonka, MN | 53,064 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Roseville, MN | 35,802 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Shoreview, MN | 26,714 | 116 | 1.1x |
| West St. Paul, MN | 21,382 | 103 | 1.0x |
