St. Paul vs Topeka
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Paul
Topeka
The Verdict
Topeka is 20.5% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Paul would need approximately $62,250 in Topeka 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 $62,250 in Topeka.
Conversely, $75,000 in Topeka equals $90,361 in St. Paul.
Living in St. Paul vs Topeka
Housing Costs
St. Paul's housing index of 98 is higher Topeka's 55, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $175,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in St. Paul compared to $900/mo in Topeka, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in St. Paul and 98 in Topeka. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in St. Paul vs $466/month in Topeka. 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 97 in Topeka. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in St. Paul vs $388 in Topeka. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in St. Paul and 96 in Topeka. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $55,500 in Topeka. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,718 and $66,867 respectively. Topeka residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,347/month to housing in St. Paul vs $1,295/month in Topeka. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo fits within this budget. In Topeka, median rent of $900/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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