Cost of Living in St. Paul, MN

An Overview of Cost of Living in St. Paul, MN

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in St. Paul? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in St. Paul stands at 102, making it 2% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in St. Paul aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. St. Paul residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in St. Paul?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 15 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in St. Paul. The results indicated that 27% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 73% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is St. Paul Affordable?

Is St. Paul affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take St. Paul, for instance, where the median home price falls 17.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with St. Paul flaunting a median household income of $59,717, 7.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in St. Paul?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In St. Paul, the utilities index is 6.4% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In St. Paul, healthcare costs are 0.7% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In St. Paul, the transportation index is 2.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The St. Paul cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.