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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Minnesota using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. St P…
#1 Ranked: St Paul — cost index 97, rent $1,485/mo, income $73,055
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Paul | $1,485 | 18% | 97 | Details |
| 2 | Minneapolis | $1,638 | 20% | 101 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Minnesota using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. St Paul comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
A closer look at St Paul: the cost index of 97 breaks down to a Utilities index of 89 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 100 (weakest). Median rent is $1,485/month — 22% below the national median — while household income sits at $73,055, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — though some people might weigh that differently — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. St Paul ($1,485/mo, 18%), Minneapolis ($1,638/mo, 20%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $65,447 to $65,447/year across these top picks.
Most rankings ignore this. We think it's the whole point: 2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Keep reading — the next section adds critical context. The 2 cities we track in Minnesota paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 99. Median rent: $1,562/month. Household income: $76,662. Minnesota is known for Twin Cities prosperity, outstate thrift — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
Bottom line: St Paul leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked St Paul has increased from $1,443 to $1,485/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
303,820 residents · Minnesota
The #1 spot goes to St Paul, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,485/month — saving renters $4,920 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 89, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
425,115 residents · Minnesota
Here's Minneapolis by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 101. Rent: $1,638/month. Income: $80,269/year. Home price: $327,043. Population: 425,115. The strongest category is Utilities at 93; the most expensive is Healthcare at 104. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,084 per year vs. the national median. For families with student loans, that cost gap is a second income.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1St Paul | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $65,447 |
2Minneapolis | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $65,447 |
St Paul ranks #1 in Minnesota for this analysis with a cost index of 97 and median income of $73,055.
Yes. On a $100K salary in St Paul, rent would consume about 18% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
St Paul (ranked #1) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,485/mo, while Minneapolis (ranked #2) has a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,638/mo — a 4-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in St Paul is $1,485/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $410 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 9.85% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in St Paul is approximately $65,447/year ($5,454/month). After median rent of $1,485/month, you'd have roughly $47,627/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in St Paul is $289,137, which is 4.0× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Minnesota has a 9.85% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.545%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.02%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.