CostIndexUSA

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

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

St. Paul is slightly cheaper than Sacramento — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $78,600 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.1%
Sacramento
130.2
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries2.0%
Sacramento
105.2
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+4.1%
Sacramento
105.3
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Sacramento
95.3
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities38.2%
Sacramento
151.3
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$78,600
$1,400 less needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9822. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

St. Paul, MN

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

Sacramento has 14.1% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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).

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.