Arlington vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Arlington
St Cloud
The Verdict
St Cloud is 6.7% less expensive than Arlington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Arlington would need approximately $70,313 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Arlington has the same purchasing power as $70,313 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $80,000 in Arlington.
Living in Arlington vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Arlington's housing index of 86 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $250,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in Arlington compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Arlington and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Arlington vs $480/month in St Cloud. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Arlington and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Arlington vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Arlington and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $60,138 in Arlington and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,644 and $66,889 respectively. St Cloud residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,403/month to housing in Arlington vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Arlington, median rent of $1,300/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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