Median rent is 18% lower in St. Paul ($1,281/mo vs $1,561/mo). Buying is cheaper in St. Paul, where the median home runs $294,500 versus $361,700. Households earn more in Bloomington ($93,211 vs $73,394 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (104.3).
City A
Bloomington, MN
City B
St. Paul, MN
How much would you need to earn in St. Paul, MN to maintain your standard of living from Bloomington, MN?
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Bloomington
Minnesota
St. Paul
Minnesota
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in St. Paul at $1,281/mo compared to $1,561/mo in Bloomington (18% gap). Median home values are within 19% of each other: $361,700 in Bloomington and $294,500 in St. Paul.
Metric
Bloomington
St. Paul
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Bloomington
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
St. Paul
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for St. Paul (avg AQI 55.0) but not yet for Bloomington.
Pick Bloomington if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,211/yr).
Pick St. Paul if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,281/mo median).
Bloomington is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 104.3 versus 104.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Bloomington.
Median rent is $1,561/mo in Bloomington, MN and $1,281/mo in St. Paul, MN. St. Paul, MN has the lower rent by about 18%.
Median household income is $93,211 in Bloomington, MN and $73,394 in St. Paul, MN. Bloomington, MN has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Bloomington, MN is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in St. Paul, MN (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
