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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K 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.
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K 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.
The numbers for St Paul are straightforward: 97 on the cost index, $1,485/month rent, $73,055 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters.
The counter-argument is worth hearing: State context matters: Minnesota's 2 cities average a 99 cost index with $1,562/month median rent and $76,662 household income. Twin Cities prosperity, outstate thrift. What the trend analysis reveals: one of these cities is moving in the wrong direction.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#1 Ranked: St Paul — cost index 97, rent $1,485/mo, income $73,055
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K 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 | 12% | 97 | Details |
| 2 | Minneapolis | $1,638 | 13% | 101 | Details |
303,820 residents · Minnesota
Look, Why St Paul ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And for the typical household, at 97 on the cost index, residents save roughly 15% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,485/month while the median household pulls in $73,055/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 89, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $289,137 — $178,233 below the national median.
425,115 residents · Minnesota
Dive into Minneapolis's numbers: cost index 101 (11 points below national average), rent $1,638/month, income $80,269, and a home price of $327,043. And more often than not, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 93, while Healthcare runs 104. With 425,115 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1St Paul | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $94,708 |
2Minneapolis | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $94,708 |
St Paul ranks #1 in Minnesota for this analysis with a cost index of 97 and median income of $73,055.
Yes. On a $150K salary in St Paul, rent would consume about 12% 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 $150K in St Paul is approximately $94,708/year ($7,892/month). After median rent of $1,485/month, you'd have roughly $76,888/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.