High Point vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
High Point
St. Paul
The Verdict
High Point is 16.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in High Point would need approximately $89,286 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 High Point has the same purchasing power as $89,286 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $63,000 in High Point.
Living in High Point vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
High Point's housing index of 61 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $249,000 vs $260,000. The $11,000 difference in home prices means roughly $720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in High Point compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in High Point and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in High Point vs $489/month in St. Paul. High Point offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in High Point and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in High Point vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in High Point 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 $49,200 in High Point and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,571 and $57,718 respectively. High Point residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,148/month to housing in High Point vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In High Point, 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 Housing, where the gap is 37 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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