Mounds View, MN vs St. James, MN

The cost of living difference between Mounds View, MN and St. James, MN is dramatic. St. James is 45.5% cheaper than Mounds View, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Mounds View has a cost index of 98 while St. James sits at 67, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Mounds View is $1,216/month compared to $805/month in St. James — a 51% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. James is more affordable at $109,600 median vs $294,500.

Median household income in Mounds View is $90,148 compared to $57,031 in St. James (+58.1%). While Mounds View is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mounds View spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 16.9% in St. James.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 44.6°F). Mounds View receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 29.3" in St. James.