College Station vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
St. Paul
The Verdict
College Station is 13.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $86,207 in St. Paul to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $86,207 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $65,250 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $260,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $489/month in St. Paul. College Station offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $57,718 respectively. College Station residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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