CostIndexUSA

St. Louis, MO vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

St. Louis is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 10.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Louis, you would need $88,200 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+41.5%
St. Louis
79
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+3.1%
St. Louis
100
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+5.8%
St. Louis
103.6
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
St. Louis
93.7
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities+33.8%
St. Louis
69.9
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$88,200
$8,200 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 1.1020. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

St. Paul, MN

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

St. Paul has 41.5% higher housing costs compared to St. Louis.

Income & Job Market

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

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).

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.