City Comparison

Gresham vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

28.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 28.0%, with St. Paul being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to $58,594 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
172
Gresham
98
St. Paul
Groceries
101
Gresham
103
St. Paul
Utilities
96
Gresham
97
St. Paul
Transportation
126
Gresham
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
103
Gresham
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $58,594 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $96,000 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $260,000. The $199,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,936 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $489/month in St. Paul. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gresham and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $57,718 respectively. St. Paul residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 Housing, where the gap is 74 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Paul is 28.0% more affordable overall with an index of 100 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,594 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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