Crystal, MN vs St. Francis, MN

St. Francis is moderately more affordable than Crystal, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Crystal scores 103 compared to 97 for St. Francis, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Crystal can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal is $1,437/month compared to $1,183/month in St. Francis — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Francis has cheaper rent, Crystal actually has lower median home values ($280,500 vs $297,800).

Median household income in Crystal is $86,752 compared to $101,875 in St. Francis (-14.8%). St. Francis offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Crystal spend roughly 19.9% of their income on rent, more than the 13.9% in St. Francis.