City Comparison

Roseville vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

St. Paul

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

The Verdict

39.0%

St. Paul is 39.0% less expensive than Roseville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Roseville would need approximately $53,957 in St. Paul to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
179
Roseville
98
St. Paul
Groceries
105
Roseville
103
St. Paul
Utilities
163
Roseville
97
St. Paul
Transportation
134
Roseville
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
106
Roseville
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roseville has the same purchasing power as $53,957 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $104,250 in Roseville.

Living in Roseville vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Roseville's housing index of 179 is higher St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $625,000 vs $260,000. The $365,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Roseville compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Roseville and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Roseville 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 163 in Roseville and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $652 in Roseville vs $388 in St. Paul. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Roseville 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 $142,800 in Roseville and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $102,734 and $57,718 respectively. Roseville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,332/month to housing in Roseville vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/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 81 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Paul is 39.0% more affordable overall with an index of 100 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,957 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Roseville's housing index is 179 with median homes at $625,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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