Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint Paul, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint Paul, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,423 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,836 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $5,249 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 86% more than Saint Paul, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Saint Paul, MN sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Saint Paul, MN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$18.12 $18.12

67.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$65.5 $65.5

117.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$10.13 $10.13

24.88%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.06 $5.06

14.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.70 $2.70

20.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.42 $2.42

6.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.03 $6.03

35.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.15 $7.15

65.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.96 $0.96

59.38%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.30 $4.30

22.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.88 $3.88

114.95%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$3.17 $3.17

128.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$9.52 $9.52

81.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.91 $11.91

36.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$14.28 $14.28

38.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.87 $4.87

55.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.19 $1.19

103.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.95 $5.95

-2.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.11 $5.11

25.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.80 $3.80

1.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.64 $3.64

11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.02 $2.02

54.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.92 $1.92

27.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$10.65 $10.65

80.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.56 $14.56

37.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.76 $1.76

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.42 $4.42

-15.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.26 $2.26

25.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$118 $118

14.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.93 $4.93

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.43 $1.43

47.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.52 $29.52

43.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.86 $0.86

12.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$35.7K $35.7K

-2.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$223 $223

-18.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$48.45 $48.45

24.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$72.0 $72.0

-13.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$41.36 $41.36

246.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$10.05 $10.05

549.35%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.80 $13.80

44.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,216 $3,216

$1,466 $1,466

119.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$29.8K $29.8K

92.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$39.62 $39.62

70.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$41.88 $41.88

13.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$83.4 $83.4

33.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$130 $130

30.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,232 $1,232

232.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,012 $1,012

166.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,196 $2,196

284.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,253 $2,253

127.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,899 $2,899

527.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,226 $2,226

182.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,182 $4,182

32.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.43

0.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,232 in Saint Paul, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $65.0 in Saint Paul, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $389 – making Saint Paul, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Saint Paul, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 86% more than Saint Paul, MN, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,634 in Saint Paul, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Paul, MN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,216 per month in New York, NY and $1,466 in Saint Paul, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Saint Paul, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,423, than in New York, NY at $4,503. In Saint Paul, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint Paul, MN costs $2,423 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Paul, MN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.