Portsmouth, IA vs St. Paul, IA

The cost of living difference between Portsmouth, IA and St. Paul, IA is dramatic. Portsmouth is 30.1% cheaper than St. Paul, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Portsmouth has a cost index of 59 while St. Paul sits at 85, 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.

When it comes to buying, median home values in Portsmouth are $115,500 compared to $158,300 in St. Paul, a 27% gap.

Median household income in Portsmouth is $79,643 compared to $81,250 in St. Paul (-2%). St. Paul does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.4°F vs 51.9°F). St. Paul receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 31.9" in Portsmouth.