City Comparison

Kenosha vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

St. Paul

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

The Verdict

9.0%

Living in Kenosha costs 9.0% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kenosha, you would need $82,418 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Kenosha
98
St. Paul
Groceries
99
Kenosha
103
St. Paul
Utilities
95
Kenosha
97
St. Paul
Transportation
103
Kenosha
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
96
Kenosha
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $82,418 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $68,250 in Kenosha.

Living in Kenosha vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Kenosha's housing index of 82 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $260,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha 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 95 in Kenosha and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kenosha and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,900 in Kenosha and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $57,718 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kenosha is 9.0% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,418 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Kenosha's housing index is 82 with median homes at $275,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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