CostIndexUSA

Seattle, WA vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Seattle
111.1
overall index
$2,175/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

St. Paul is moderately cheaper than Seattle — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Seattle, you would need $75,500 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−26.1%
Seattle
151.3
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries−0.9%
Seattle
104
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation−2.3%
Seattle
112.2
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare−2.3%
Seattle
101.5
St. Paul
99.2
⚡ Utilities+0.8%
Seattle
92.8
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$75,500
$4,500 less needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 111.1) = salary × 0.9433. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Seattle, WA

Median Home Price
$730,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,175
Housing Index
151.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
28.0×

St. Paul, MN

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

Seattle has 26.1% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

Seattle, WA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
737,255
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceHealthcareRetailLogistics

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).

Seattle, WA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Seattle vs other cities

Seattle, WA
vs
Bellingham, WA
Index: 111.1Index: 103.3
Seattle, WA
vs
Bremerton, WA
Index: 111.1Index: 105.6
Seattle, WA
vs
Kennewick, WA
Index: 111.1Index: 100.1
Seattle, WA
vs
Denver, CO
Index: 111.1Index: 105.8
Seattle, WA
vs
Boston, MA
Index: 111.1Index: 108.3

St. Paul vs other cities

St. Paul, MN
vs
Duluth, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 88.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Minneapolis, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 104.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Rochester, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 90.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Newark, NJ
Index: 104.8Index: 112.6
St. Paul, MN
vs
Santa Ana, CA
Index: 104.8Index: 113.6

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.