Racine vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Racine
St. Paul
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 12.0%, with Racine being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Racine has equivalent purchasing power to $85,227 in St. Paul.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Racine has the same purchasing power as $85,227 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $66,000 in Racine.
Living in Racine vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Racine's housing index of 66 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $126,000 vs $260,000. The $134,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,712 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Racine compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Racine and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Racine vs $489/month in St. Paul. Racine offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Racine and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Racine vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 111 in Racine 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 $57,700 in Racine and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,568 and $57,718 respectively. Racine residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,346/month to housing in Racine vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Racine, median rent of $1,025/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 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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