Rents are 2% below what Saint Paul's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,524 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Saint Paul usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in May, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Saint Paul is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Saint Paul changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Saint Paul is 19.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 12 ZIP codes in Saint Paul, 55104 ($1,745/mo), costs 42% more than the cheapest, 55130 ($1,225/mo).
New Hope, 15 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,359/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Saint Paul. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
How Saint Paul, MN has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Saint Paul, MN paid around $1,290 a month. That figure now sits near $1,524, up 18.1% from the 2021 baseline. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Saint Paul, MN reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Saint Paul
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Saint Paul on your salary?
At $1,524/mo, how Saint Paul rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Saint Paul rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Saint Paul. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Saint Paul
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Saint Paul is $1,524/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,168/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,611/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,320/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,154/mo.
At 25% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Saint Paul ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Saint Paul?
Is rent going up or down in Saint Paul?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Saint Paul?
Which Saint Paul neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Saint Paul rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Saint Paul?
At $1,524/mo, rent takes ~25% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Saint Paul.
No discussions yet.