Peoria vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Peoria
St. Paul
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 24.0%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to $98,684 in St. Paul.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $98,684 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $57,000 in Peoria.
Living in Peoria vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $260,000. The $96,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,240 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Peoria and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Peoria vs $489/month in St. Paul. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Peoria and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 107 in Peoria 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 $58,700 in Peoria and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 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 $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/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 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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