City Comparison

Brooklyn vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

116.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 116.7%, with St Cloud being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to $34,615 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
325
Brooklyn
82
St Cloud
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
101
St Cloud
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
95
St Cloud
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $34,615 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $162,500 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $250,000. The $530,000 difference in home prices means roughly $34,452 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $1,900.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $480/month in St Cloud. St Cloud offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn 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 108 in Brooklyn 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 $65,294 in Brooklyn and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 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 $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/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 243 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 116.7% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $34,615 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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