States › Minnesota › West St. Paul

Is West St. Paul, MN expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,43418% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$73,838about $6,153/month · 15% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$301,3009% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 62% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $57,360 a year. That is $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Minnesota cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Minnesota. It is number 60 of 150 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West St. Paul
$1,434
Willmar
$1,090
New Hope
$1,604
Golden Valley
$1,774
Northfield
$1,835
Forest Lake
$1,778
Lino Lakes
$2,479

How much do households earn in West St. Paul?

Under $25k
20.0%
$25k–50k
21.8%
$50k–100k
30.1%
$100k–150k
15.5%
$150k+
9.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West St. Paul

SizeWest St. PaulU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,207$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,608$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,724$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,558$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West St. Paul overall?

Everyday prices in Minnesota overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
91
Goods (food, clothes…)
101
Utilities
91
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for West St. Paul, so the Minnesota figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West St. Paul

🏛️ Property tax$3,142a year · 1.04% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$135a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West St. Paul

Commute to work22.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home57.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West St. Paul?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $657 a month less.

Renting
$1,434
Owning
$2,091

Owning assumes a typical $301,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $30,130 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West St. Paul, MN?

Renting in West St. Paul costs a median of about $1,434 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Minnesota median is $1,525.

How much do I need to make to live in West St. Paul?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $57,360 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West St. Paul cheap or expensive?

West St. Paul is rated OK: rent takes 23.3% of the typical household income of $73,838. It ranks 60th cheapest of 150 Minnesota cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West St. Paul?

The median homeowner in West St. Paul pays $3,142 a year in property taxes, about 1.04% of the median home value.

Is West St. Paul more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Minnesota are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in West St. Paul?

The median home value in West St. Paul is $301,300, about 4.1 times the typical yearly household income.

21,382 people live in West St. Paul. Numbers are typical (middle) values.