Cost of Living in St. Paul, MN
| Cost of Living in St. Paul, MN | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 6% lower | 20% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 5% lower |
| Food | 3% higher | 5% higher |
| Healthcare | 7% lower | 3% lower |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 4% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 1% lower |
The cost of living in St. Paul, MN is 2% lower than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. St. Paul, MN housing is 20% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 5% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 5% pricier in St. Paul, MN than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% cheaper in St. Paul, MN.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in St. Paul is $1,526, while home prices circle around $403,403.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In St. Paul, energy bills cost around $196.75 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.56 in St. Paul, a dozen eggs go for around $4.59 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.31.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In St. Paul, an optometry check-up costs around $124.30, while a dentist appointment is priced $102.30 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.10 in St. Paul, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $63.05.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $43.17 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $42.23.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in St. Paul, you should budget around $11.73 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.75, while dry cleaning costs about $18.35.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In St. Paul, the median household income is $73,055.