City Comparison
Mankato vs St. Paul
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Mankato scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Mankato
St. Paul
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mankato is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in St. Paul.
Housing costs are a major driver: Mankato's average rent is
21% lower than St. Paul's.
| Metric | Mankato | St. Paul | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,459 | -21% |
| Groceries | $380 | $410 | -7% |
| Utilities | $170 | $175 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $240 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,040 | $2,394 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 91 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
St. Paul offers 16% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Paul delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Mankato is estimated at
$48,000 vs $97,211 in St. Paul.
| Metric | Mankato | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $73,394 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $97,211 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,132 idx | 69,899 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $73,394 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — St. Paul sees 7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Mankato | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.10°F | 46.60°F |
| Summer High | 79.60°F | 79.30°F |
| Winter Low | 9.30°F | 7.20°F |
| Rainfall | 38.60 in | 40.00 in |
| Snowfall | 25.10 in | 32.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 258 | 256 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Mankato has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to St. Paul.
St. Paul scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, St. Paul leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Mankato | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 43.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Paul is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Mankato.
From a growth perspective, Mankato is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Mankato has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Mankato | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,488 | 306,684 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | — |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Mankato
Advantages
Median home prices in Mankato remain well below the national average per 2024 Zillow data.
Mayo Clinic Health System provides top-tier regional healthcare and major employment opportunities.
Minnesota State University, Mankato infuses the city with cultural events, sports, and a youthful energy.
Extensive outdoor recreation network featuring Riverfront Park and miles of paved biking trails.
Consistently lower unemployment rate compared to the national average per Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Drawbacks
Winters are long and harsh, with significant snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Public transit options are limited outside of core bus routes and the immediate university area.
Rental vacancy rates can tighten significantly during the academic fall semester startup.
Limited direct access to commercial air travel, requiring a trip to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Higher than average state income taxes typical of Minnesota apply to local earners.
St. Paul
Advantages
Median home value of $294,500 sits approximately 11% below the U.S. national average per Census Bureau data.
Extensive park system featuring Como Park, more than 100 public parks, and extensive Mississippi River shoreline access.
Thriving higher education presence with esteemed institutions like Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas.
Rich cultural infrastructure, including the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and world-class museums.
Robust public transit connectivity via the METRO Green Line light rail linking directly to downtown Minneapolis.
Drawbacks
Rigorous winter climate brings heavy seasonal snowfalls and prolonged sub-freezing temperatures.
Overall cost of living tracks roughly 4.8% above the national average driven by regional housing and tax structures.
State and local income tax burdens rank higher than the national median.
Property crime rates in specific commercial zones exceed national suburban medians.
Poverty rates in select urban core neighborhoods remain higher than state averages.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Mankato
#110Minnesota, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
91
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.10°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
77
Business
70
St. Paul
#523Minnesota, USA
50.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,459
Avg Salary
$73,394
Cost Index
105
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
256/yr
Avg Temp
46.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
77
Business
71
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