CostIndexUSA

New York, NY vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
New York
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

St. Paul is moderately cheaper than New York — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New York, you would need $74,500 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.8%
New York
148.6
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries6.5%
New York
110.3
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation1.4%
New York
111.1
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
New York
100.5
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities26.4%
New York
127
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$74,500
$5,500 less needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9307. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New York, NY

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

St. Paul, MN

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

New York has 24.8% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

New York, NY

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
8,336,817
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaReal EstateHealthcare

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).

New York, NY
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% 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.