City Comparison

Bridgeport vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut
131
Expensive
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$48,734
Median Income

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

45.6%

Living in St Cloud costs 45.6% less than Bridgeport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bridgeport, you would need $51,527 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
165
Bridgeport
82
St Cloud
Groceries
107
Bridgeport
101
St Cloud
Utilities
126
Bridgeport
95
St Cloud
Transportation
104
Bridgeport
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
114
Bridgeport
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has the same purchasing power as $51,527 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $109,167 in Bridgeport.

Living in Bridgeport vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Bridgeport's housing index of 165 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $250,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Bridgeport compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Bridgeport and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Bridgeport vs $480/month in St Cloud. St Cloud offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Bridgeport and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Bridgeport vs $380 in St Cloud. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 114 in Bridgeport and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,734 in Bridgeport and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $37,202 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 $1,137/month to housing in Bridgeport vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Bridgeport, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 83 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 45.6% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $51,527 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Bridgeport's housing index is 165 with median homes at $310,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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