City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Chicago and St Paul are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,440 in Chicago and $1,281 in St Paul, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $73,394. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Chicago 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Chicago and St Paul are 347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $159 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $73,394 in St Paul, down $4,508 (6%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 166 in St Paul, down 1 points (1%).
The move
St Paul and Chicago are 347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $159 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $77,902 in Chicago, up $4,508 (6%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 167 in Chicago, up 1 points (1%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
St Paul rent is 11% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,440 in Chicago, so St Paul is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,908, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Paul still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chicago.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Chicago's median income is 6% higher than St Paul
Chicago
Winner$77,902
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Chicago (about $4,508 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
1% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 1% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in St Paul. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Paul, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 18% more comfortable than St Paul
Chicago
Winner57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
St Paul
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Chicago averages about 57°F (64°F highs); St Paul averages about 53°F (60°F highs). Chicago averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 18% 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 6% higher ($77,902), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°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 11% 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 1% lower than Chicago (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: $1,440/month rent in Chicago at 57°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 53°F. Income runs $77,902 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $159 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,394 in St Paul.
Between Chicago and St Paul, Chicago is ahead on climate — 57°F typical weather versus 53°F. Lean St Paul instead when you would rather tolerate 53°F than optimize for Chicago's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and St Paul, plus other cities in IL and MN.
