City Comparison

Roswell vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

St. Paul

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

The Verdict

13.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 13.0%, with St. Paul being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Roswell has equivalent purchasing power to $66,372 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
187
Roswell
98
St. Paul
Groceries
101
Roswell
103
St. Paul
Utilities
98
Roswell
97
St. Paul
Transportation
110
Roswell
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
103
Roswell
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Roswell vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Roswell's housing index of 187 is higher St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $647,000 vs $260,000. The $387,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,152 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Roswell compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Roswell and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Roswell 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 98 in Roswell and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Roswell vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Roswell 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 $108,800 in Roswell and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $96,283 and $57,718 respectively. Roswell residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,539/month to housing in Roswell vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/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 89 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 Roswell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,372 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Roswell's housing index is 187 with median homes at $647,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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