Moorhead, MN vs South St. Paul, MN

Moorhead is moderately more affordable than South St. Paul, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Moorhead scores 82 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 Moorhead is $1,017/month compared to $1,128/month in South St. Paul — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Moorhead is more affordable at $246,300 median vs $266,800.

Median household income in Moorhead is $69,371 compared to $84,472 in South St. Paul (-17.9%). 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 Moorhead spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in South St. Paul.

Climate-wise, South St. Paul is notably warmer with an average of 46.5°F compared to 42.2°F in Moorhead. South St. Paul receives more rainfall at 29.2" per year compared to 24" in Moorhead.