City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Atlanta and St Paul. Atlanta averages 61°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,711 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Atlanta pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Atlanta and St Paul are 901 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $430 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $73,394 in St Paul, down $12,258 (14%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 166 in St Paul, down 31 points (16%).
The move
St Paul and Atlanta are 901 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $430 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $12,258 (17%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 197 in Atlanta, up 31 points (19%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
St Paul rent is 25% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so St Paul is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $430/month back in your pocket ($5,160/year). Over five years that's $25,800 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Atlanta, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Atlanta's median income is 17% higher than St Paul
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Atlanta (about $12,258 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. St Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 16% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in St Paul. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, St Paul is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
53% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 53% more comfortable than St Paul
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta scores 53% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose St Paul if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 17% higher ($85,652), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Atlanta (166 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,711/month rent in Atlanta at 61°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $85,652 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Atlanta still pays more locally ($85,652 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Atlanta rates.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Atlanta and 45/100 in St Paul.
Between Atlanta and St Paul, Atlanta is ahead on climate — 61°F typical weather versus 50°F. Lean St Paul instead when you would rather tolerate 50°F than optimize for Atlanta's comfort score.
Common questions
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