St. Paul vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Paul
Vienna
The Verdict
Living in Vienna costs 13.6% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in St. Paul, you would need $66,000 in Vienna.
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 $66,000 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $85,227 in St. Paul.
Living in St. Paul vs Vienna
Housing Costs
St. Paul's housing index of 98 is lower Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $395,000. The $135,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in St. Paul compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in St. Paul and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in St. Paul vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1020/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in St. Paul and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in St. Paul vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in St. Paul and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,718 and $54,545 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 $1,120/month in Vienna. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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