Maplewood, MN vs South St. Paul, MN

South St. Paul is moderately more affordable than Maplewood, with a 8.3% lower cost of living index. Maplewood scores 100 compared to 93 for South St. Paul, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Maplewood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Maplewood is $1,316/month compared to $1,128/month in South St. Paul — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: South St. Paul is more affordable at $266,800 median vs $291,300.

Median household income in Maplewood is $88,534 compared to $84,472 in South St. Paul (+4.8%). The higher salaries in Maplewood partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Maplewood spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in South St. Paul.

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