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 $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,405 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $3,753 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,100 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 84% 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 230%, Saint Paul, MN by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$17.76 $17.76

65.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$66.2 $66.2

115.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$9.82 $9.82

26.37%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.05 $5.05

20.40%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.78 $2.78

19.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.38 $2.38

13.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$5.88 $5.88

38.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.86 $6.86

75.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.04 $1.04

55.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.18 $4.18

21.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.81 $3.81

113.12%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$3.33 $3.33

106.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$9.36 $9.36

88.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$11.62 $11.62

41.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$14.26 $14.26

38.92%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.06 $5.06

51.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.20 $1.20

110.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.64 $5.64

-0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.18 $5.18

23.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.94 $3.94

-2.54%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.75 $3.75

9.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.99 $1.99

54.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.92 $1.92

29.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.66 $10.66

76.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.71 $14.71

33.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.75 $1.75

70.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.45 $4.45

-15.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.27 $2.27

29.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$121 $121

9.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$5.04 $5.04

0.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.37 $1.37

60.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$29.27 $29.27

46.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.82 $0.82

18.29%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$35.1K $35.1K

-0.29%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

10.64%

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

$182 $182

$226 $226

-19.33%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$49.33 $49.33

22.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$71.9 $71.9

-11.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$42.02 $42.02

239.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$9.81 $9.81

548.62%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.01 $14.01

41.97%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,458 $1,458

114.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$30.6K $30.6K

90.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$38.77 $38.77

74.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$41.32 $41.32

14.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$84.5 $84.5

33.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$127 $127

37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,248 $1,248

232.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,017 $1,017

164.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,180 $2,180

278.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,276 $2,276

132.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$2,957 $2,957

526.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,197 $2,197

196.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,046 $4,046

36.41%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,248 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 36% 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $66.0 in Saint Paul, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $388 – 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 84% 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 $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $3,608 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 $3,129 per month in New York, NY and $1,458 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 43% 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 $2,405, than in New York, NY at $4,415. 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 $2,405 versus $4,415 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.