Minnesota

Living wage in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Most of Saint Paul is in Ramsey County, where a full-time job needs to pay at least $39.79 an hour before taxes to take home four times the typical studio rent.

Pay needed, before taxes$39.79/hrRamsey County standard
At Saint Paul's middle rent$42.16/hrstudio rent $1,280 a month
Check a job's pay hereAll the numbers for Ramsey County

Across the 31 ZIP codes in Saint Paul with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,120 to $1,690 a month. At the middle rent, $1,280, a full-time job would need to pay $42.16 an hour before taxes.

Parts of Saint Paul are also in Dakota County, Washington County, Hennepin County.

ZIP codes in Saint Paul

What the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent. The calculator and the official standard use the county figure.

ZIPCountyStudio rentPay needed
55101Ramsey County$1,440/mo$48.50/hr
55102Ramsey County$1,270/mo$41.77/hr
55103Ramsey County$1,120/mo$35.83/hr
55104Ramsey County$1,160/mo$37.41/hr
55105Ramsey County$1,210/mo$39.39/hr
55106Ramsey County$1,120/mo$35.83/hr
55107Ramsey County$1,220/mo$39.79/hr
55108Ramsey County$1,260/mo$41.37/hr
55109Ramsey County$1,200/mo$38.99/hr
55110Ramsey County$1,340/mo$44.54/hr
55111Hennepin County$1,120/mo$35.83/hr
55112Ramsey County$1,190/mo$38.60/hr
55113Ramsey County$1,280/mo$42.16/hr
55114Ramsey County$1,420/mo$47.71/hr
55115Washington County$1,510/mo$51.27/hr
55116Ramsey County$1,290/mo$42.56/hr
55117Ramsey County$1,120/mo$35.83/hr
55118Dakota County$1,180/mo$38.20/hr
55119Ramsey County$1,190/mo$38.60/hr
55120Dakota County$1,360/mo$45.33/hr
55121Dakota County$1,430/mo$48.11/hr
55122Dakota County$1,340/mo$44.54/hr
55123Dakota County$1,400/mo$46.92/hr
55124Dakota County$1,490/mo$50.48/hr
55125Washington County$1,620/mo$55.63/hr
55126Ramsey County$1,390/mo$46.52/hr
55127Ramsey County$1,460/mo$49.29/hr
55128Washington County$1,290/mo$42.56/hr
55129Washington County$1,690/mo$58.41/hr
55130Ramsey County$1,120/mo$35.83/hr
55155Ramsey County$1,170/mo$37.81/hr

Questions

How much do you need to make to live in Saint Paul, Minnesota?

Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in Saint Paul needs to pay at least $39.79 an hour before taxes, about $82,756 a year. That is the figure for Ramsey County, where the typical studio rent is $1,220 a month.

Does it vary by neighborhood?

Yes. Across the 31 ZIP codes in Saint Paul with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,120 to $1,690 a month. At the middle rent of $1,280, the pay needed would be $42.16 an hour.

How does that compare with the minimum wage?

The minimum wage in Ramsey County is $11.41 an hour. The Four Times Rent standard there is 3.5 times that.

The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal and state income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent? · Method and data downloads