St. Paul vs Toledo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Paul
Toledo
The Verdict
Toledo is 29.9% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Paul would need approximately $57,750 in Toledo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in St. Paul has the same purchasing power as $57,750 in Toledo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $97,403 in St. Paul.
Living in St. Paul vs Toledo
Housing Costs
St. Paul's housing index of 98 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $128,000. The $132,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in St. Paul compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in St. Paul and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in St. Paul vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 97 in St. Paul and 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in St. Paul vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in St. Paul and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,718 in St. Paul and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,718 and $54,805 respectively. St. Paul residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,347/month to housing in St. Paul vs $985/month in Toledo. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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