Minneapolis, MN vs St. Paul, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
St. Paul, MN and Minneapolis, MN spend within 2.9% of each other per resident — $22,552 versus $21,910 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Minneapolis, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for St. Paul, MN — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Minneapolis, MN carries the lighter load at $644 per resident versus $2,026 for St. Paul, MN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Minneapolis, MN at $3,486 per resident and in St. Paul, MN at $2,137.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Minneapolis, MN at 17% of total revenue, whereas St. Paul, MN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 18%.
Summary
St. Paul spends 2.8% more per capita than Minneapolis ($642/person difference). Minneapolis, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $130 |
| Sales Tax | $1,989 | $1,463 |
| Income Tax | $994 | $27 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,929 | $6,526 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,040 | $2,727 |
| Other | $3,254 | $4,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $683 | $503 |
| Highways & Roads | $221 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,500 | $1,730 |
| Health | $0 | $663 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $3,391 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,486 | $2,137 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $4,835 |
| Sewerage | $570 | $367 |
| Utilities | $2,398 | $2,294 |
| Other | $8,919 | $6,632 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.