Cost of LivingUpdated 2026-03-23

Saint Paul, Minnesota

In Saint Paul, Minnesota, a gallon of regular gas costs $3.44 as of 2026-03-23 — $0.01 below the national average of $3.45. The average monthly rent for all unit types is $1,141.69, compared to the national average of $1,900. Grocery inflation is running at 2.4% year-over-year. Since 2022, bread prices have increased significantly while egg prices have been volatile due to avian flu outbreaks. Saint Paul's cost-of-living index of 100 puts it below the national average of 100.

Key Numbers

Gas (Regular)

$3.44

National: $3.45

120.8%vs. 2022

Avg Rent (All)

$1,141.69

National: $1,900

85.4%vs. 2022

Grocery Inflation

2.4%

Year-over-year

Fast Food Avg

$13.25

Combo meal

4.6%YoY

Grocery Prices

Grocery Item Prices — 2022 to Present

Item20222023202420252026Change
Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.84$2.17$2.78$4.16$2.29+24.5%
Milk (gallon)$3.40$3.67$3.56$3.74$3.81+12.1%
Ground Beef (lb)$3.99$5.05$5.36$5.52$5.74+43.9%
Bread (loaf)$2.20$3.03$3.27$3.54$3.65+65.9%
Chicken Breast (lb)$3.69$3.87$3.91$3.99$4.03+9.2%
Butter (lb)$4.28$4.84$5.13$5.34$5.45+27.3%
Bacon (lb)$6.43$7.01$7.36$7.65$7.96+23.8%
Cheddar Cheese (lb)$5.97$6.44$6.56$6.62$6.75+13.1%
Pasta (lb)$1.47$1.78$1.85$1.87$1.85+25.9%
Rice (5 lb)$4.37$5.08$5.34$5.56$5.73+31.1%
Coffee (12 oz)$8.67$10.20$11.13$11.57$12.04+38.9%
Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortage$3.91$4.61$5.17$5.59$5.87+50.1%
Potatoes (5 lb)$3.92$4.16$4.41$4.59$4.78+21.9%
Apples (3 lb)$4.41$4.63$4.91$5.11$5.16+17.0%
Tomatoes (lb)$2.13$2.34$2.51$2.64$2.69+26.3%
Lettuce (head)$1.73$1.94$2.07$2.17$2.24+29.5%
Cooking Oil (48 oz)$5.67$7.09$7.58$7.88$7.96+40.4%
Yogurt (32 oz)$4.28$4.58$4.86$5.16$5.32+24.3%
Cereal (family size)$4.66$5.25$5.62$5.79$5.91+26.8%
Frozen Pizza$6.39$7.59$8.28$8.95$9.31+45.7%

Dining & Restaurants

Fast Food Meal

$13.25

Casual Dining

$23.69

Monthly Spend

$396.72

+4.59% YoY

Chain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today

Combo meal / typical order for one

McDonald's

2022: $8.21

$13.25

+61.4%

Wendy's

2022: $9.27

$14.31

+54.4%

Chipotle

2022: $9.94

$14.84

+49.3%

Starbucks

2022: $4.19

$5.82

+38.9%

Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.

Looking for an Apartment in Saint Paul?

Average 1BR: $1,067/mo · 2BR: $1,361.56/mo

Browse Saint Paul Apartments →

Newsletter

Get the Monthly Price Report

We track gas, groceries, and rent so you know what's coming before it hits your wallet. One email, once a month, no spam.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Data updated monthly from FRED, Zillow, AAA.

How does Saint Paul compare to other Minnesota cities?

Compare Cities Side by Side →