City Comparison

Peoria vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Arizona
113
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$97,300
Median Income

St. Paul

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

The Verdict

13.0%

Living in St. Paul costs 13.0% less than Peoria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Peoria, you would need $66,372 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
149
Peoria
98
St. Paul
Groceries
98
Peoria
103
St. Paul
Utilities
106
Peoria
97
St. Paul
Transportation
95
Peoria
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
86
Peoria
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $66,372 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $84,750 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 149 is higher St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $495,000 vs $260,000. The $235,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,276 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Peoria compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Peoria and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Peoria 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 106 in Peoria and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Peoria vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 86 in Peoria and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $97,300 in Peoria and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,106 and $57,718 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,270/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/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 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Paul is 13.0% more affordable overall with an index of 100 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,372 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 149 with median homes at $495,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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