Can I Afford to Live in St. Paul vs Cartagena on $50K?

Here's how a $50K/year salary plays out in both cities after taxes, rent, and core living expenses — based on Q1 2026 data.

St. Paul, MN
$2,748/mo take-home
Rent: $1,500/mo (55% of take-home)
Difficult
Cartagena, CO
$3,160/mo take-home
Rent: $560/mo (18% of take-home)
Very comfortable

Monthly budget breakdown

St. Paul
MN
Cartagena
CO
Monthly take-home (est.)
$2,748
$3,160Best ✓
1BR rent
$1,500
$560Best ✓
Groceries (est.)
$384
$380Best ✓
Transport (est.)
$95Best ✓
$150
Utilities
$195
$70Best ✓
Internet
$63
$30Best ✓
Left after essentials
$511/month
$1,970/month
Cartagena (Bolívar) has no state income tax, boosting take-home vs St. Paul (MN rate: 9.9%).

Frequently asked questions

Is $50K a good salary in St. Paul?

At $50K/year in St. Paul, your estimated monthly take-home is $2,748. With 1BR rent around $1,500/month, rent takes up 55% of your take-home. That's considered difficult.

Is $50K a good salary in Cartagena?

At $50K/year in Cartagena, your estimated monthly take-home is $3,160. With 1BR rent around $560/month, rent takes up 18% of your take-home. That's considered very comfortable.

Which city is more affordable on a $50K salary?

Cartagena leaves you with more money after core expenses — $1,970/month vs $511/month in St. Paul.

Can I afford to live alone in St. Paul on $50K?

It's tight. Rent in St. Paul would take 55% of your $50K take-home pay. You may need to find roommates or look at studios to stay within the 30% rule.

Compare other salary bands — St. Paul vs Cartagena

$40K$60K$75K$80K$100K$120K$150K

See the full cost-of-living comparison

Rent, groceries, taxes, transportation, and more — side by side.

Full comparison

Take-home estimates use simplified federal/state brackets and do not account for pre-tax deductions, 401(k), or local taxes. Data: Zillow, BLS, Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only