Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Paul, MN and Merced, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Paul, MN and Merced, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,331 in Saint Paul, MN versus $2,576 in Merced, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,633 in Saint Paul, MN versus $3,679 in Merced, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,935 in Saint Paul, MN versus $4,783 in Merced, CA.

Living in Saint Paul, MN costs roughly 10% less than in Merced, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Paul, MN 69% above, Merced, CA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.40 $15.40

$17.85 $17.85

-13.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$39.71 $39.71

72.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.92 $11.92

-15.10%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$5.84 $5.84

-9.25%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.44 $2.44

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.46 $1.46

86.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$9.25 $9.25

-37.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 $7.61

$9.82 $9.82

-22.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.19 $1.19

-18.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.57 $4.57

-17.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.04 $4.04

-14.36%

Eggs

$3.10 $3.10

$5.95 $5.95

-47.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.83 $9.83

$19.85 $19.85

-50.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.53 $11.53

$14.49 $14.49

-20.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 $13.12

$22.09 $22.09

-40.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.46 $4.46

6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.98 $1.98

-39.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.47 $5.47

-32.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.56 $5.56

-13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.45 $3.45

-0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.90 $2.90

23.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.42 $2.42

-16.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.50 $2.50

-36.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.91 $11.91

3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.65 $14.65

$15.47 $15.47

-5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.41 $2.41

-26.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.29 $3.29

40.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.54 $1.54

45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 $118

$59.9 $59.9

96.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.97 $2.97

-13.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.65 $1.65

-6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.69 $30.69

$26.81 $26.81

14.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.31 $1.31

-25.95%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$37.0K $37.0K

-3.12%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.88%

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

$206 $206

$237 $237

-13.07%

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

$42.84 $42.84

$30.04 $30.04

42.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$84.5 $84.5

-26.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.26 $34.26

$33.47 $33.47

2.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.57 $8.57

$14.19 $14.19

-39.61%

Cinema Ticket

$13.26 $13.26

$17.28 $17.28

-23.26%

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

$1,444 $1,444

$1,855 $1,855

-22.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.5K $27.5K

$40.4K $40.4K

-31.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.63 $41.63

$59.2 $59.2

-29.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.83 $39.83

$51.4 $51.4

-22.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 $81.1

$102 $102

-20.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 $90.8

$121 $121

-24.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 $1,342

$1,644 $1,644

-18.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 $1,073

$1,084 $1,084

-1.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,479 $2,479

$2,011 $2,011

23.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 $2,276

$1,861 $1,861

22.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,969 $2,969

$2,897 $2,897

2.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,235 $2,235

$2,838 $2,838

-21.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,149 $4,149

$3,331 $3,331

24.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

6.17

-1.62%

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

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: September 6, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,342 in Saint Paul, MN and $1,644 in Merced, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Paul, MN pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Saint Paul, MN vs $40.00 in Merced, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $362 vs $485, with Saint Paul, MN cheaper for home cooking.

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

Saint Paul, MN vs Merced, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Paul, MN and Merced, CA differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,331 vs $2,576 including rent). Saint Paul, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Saint Paul, MN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,342 in Saint Paul, MN versus $1,644 in Merced, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,444 in Saint Paul, MN versus $1,855 in Merced, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Merced, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,331 in Saint Paul, MN versus $2,576 in Merced, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Saint Paul, MN but tight or insufficient in Merced, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Paul, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Saint Paul, MN and Merced, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Saint Paul, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Merced, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.