CostIndexUSA

Salt Lake City, UT vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableUT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Salt Lake City is slightly cheaper than St. Paul — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salt Lake City, you would need $83,100 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.3%
Salt Lake City
123.3
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+7.0%
Salt Lake City
96.4
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+5.5%
Salt Lake City
103.9
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.5%
Salt Lake City
94
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities+18.4%
Salt Lake City
79
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$83,100
$3,100 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0387. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Home Price
$554,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
123.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.3×

St. Paul, MN

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

Salt Lake City has 9.3% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Household Income
$94,400
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
200,567
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceTourismGovernment

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).

Salt Lake City, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.