City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where Kansas City and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 177 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Kansas City costs less and St Paul 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 crime gap is citywide. St Paul has rougher pockets and Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Kansas City and St Paul are 411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $43 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $73,394 in St Paul, up $4,228 (6%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 166 in St Paul, down 177 points (52%).
The move
St Paul and Kansas City are 411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $43 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $4,228 (6%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 343 in Kansas City, up 177 points (107%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 3% cheaper than St Paul
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Kansas City is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $43, or $516 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
St Paul's median income is 6% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 6% higher in St Paul (about $4,228 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
52% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 52% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
38% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 38% more comfortable than St Paul
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 38% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Kansas City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 38%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Kansas City is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 52% lower than Kansas City (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but St Paul leads on safety (45/100 vs 23/100 in Kansas City). Typical rent is $1,281 in St Paul and $1,238 in Kansas City; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Paul vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $69,166 in Kansas City.
St Paul is ahead on safety (45/100 vs 23/100); Kansas City is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,238/month rent plus $69,166 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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