CostIndexUSA

Riverside, CA vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

St. Paul is slightly cheaper than Riverside — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Riverside, you would need $78,800 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing13.5%
Riverside
129.3
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+1.7%
Riverside
101.4
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+3.1%
Riverside
106.3
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+3.1%
Riverside
96.2
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities37.1%
Riverside
148.6
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Riverside to see what you'd need to earn in St. Paul to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 0.9850. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Riverside has 13.5% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.