Mankato, MN vs South St. Paul, MN

Mankato is moderately more affordable than South St. Paul, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Mankato scores 84 compared to 93 for South St. Paul, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of South St. Paul can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mankato is $1,089/month compared to $1,128/month in South St. Paul — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mankato is more affordable at $250,600 median vs $266,800.

Median household income in Mankato is $64,826 compared to $84,472 in South St. Paul (-23.3%). While South St. Paul is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mankato spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in South St. Paul.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.7°F vs 46.5°F). Mankato receives more rainfall at 30.6" per year compared to 29.2" in South St. Paul.