Maplewood, MN vs St. Michael, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Maplewood is 21.8% cheaper than St. Michael. With a cost index of 100 vs 128, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Maplewood to St. Michael should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Maplewood is $1,316/month compared to $2,038/month in St. Michael — a 35% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Maplewood is more affordable at $291,300 median vs $365,800.

Median household income in Maplewood is $88,534 compared to $130,814 in St. Michael (-32.3%). While St. Michael is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Maplewood spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in St. Michael.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.5°F vs 45.8°F). St. Michael receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 29.2" in Maplewood.