St. Paul, MN vs Minneapolis, 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 St. Paul, MN at $2,137 per resident and in Minneapolis, MN at $3,486.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in St. Paul, MN at 18% of total revenue, whereas Minneapolis, MN relies most on other revenue at 17%.
Summary
St. Paul spends 2.9% 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 | $130 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,463 | $1,989 |
| Income Tax | $27 | $994 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,526 | $2,929 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,727 | $2,040 |
| Other | $4,806 | $3,254 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $503 | $683 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $221 |
| Public Welfare | $1,730 | $1,500 |
| Health | $663 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $3,391 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,137 | $3,486 |
| Housing | $4,835 | $4,133 |
| Sewerage | $367 | $570 |
| Utilities | $2,294 | $2,398 |
| Other | $6,632 | $8,919 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.