CostIndexUSA

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

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

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

St. Paul is moderately cheaper than Tacoma — 6.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Paul, you would need $84,800 in Tacoma. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+35.3%
St. Paul
111.8
Tacoma
151.3
🛒 Groceries+0.9%
St. Paul
103.1
Tacoma
104
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
St. Paul
109.6
Tacoma
112.2
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
St. Paul
99.2
Tacoma
101.5
Utilities0.7%
St. Paul
93.5
Tacoma
92.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tacoma, WA
$84,800
$4,800 more needed in Tacoma

Formula: salary × (111.1 ÷ 104.8) = salary × 1.0601. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Paul, MN

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

Tacoma, WA

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

Tacoma has 35.3% higher housing costs compared to St. Paul.

Income & Job Market

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

Tacoma, WA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
219,346
Top Industries
MilitaryManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Tacoma, WA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.