CostIndexUSA

Salem, OR vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Salem is slightly cheaper than St. Paul — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salem, you would need $80,900 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.4%
Salem
110.3
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries−2.1%
Salem
105.3
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+4.1%
Salem
105.3
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Salem
95.3
St. Paul
99.2
⚡ Utilities−10.7%
Salem
104.7
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$80,900
$900 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 1.0116. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

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 1.4% higher housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Salem vs other cities

Salem, OR
vs
Bend, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 103.6
Salem, OR
vs
Corvallis, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 104
Salem, OR
vs
Eugene, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 101.6
Salem, OR
vs
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Index: 103.6Index: 106.4
Salem, OR
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 103.6Index: 98.2

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.