Concord vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Concord
St. Paul
The Verdict
Concord is 4.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $78,125 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 Concord has the same purchasing power as $78,125 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $72,000 in Concord.
Living in Concord vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Concord's housing index of 89 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $260,000. The $120,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,800 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $489/month in St. Paul. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $86,900 in Concord and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $57,718 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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