City Comparison

Canton vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Canton

Ohio
79
Very Affordable
$120,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$41,500
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

12.2%

Canton is 12.2% less expensive than St Cloud overall. A household earning $75,000 in Canton would need approximately $85,443 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
48
Canton
82
St Cloud
Groceries
104
Canton
101
St Cloud
Utilities
101
Canton
95
St Cloud
Transportation
94
Canton
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
103
Canton
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $85,443 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $65,833 in Canton.

Living in Canton vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Canton's housing index of 48 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $250,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton 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 101 in Canton and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton 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 $41,500 in Canton and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 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 $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Canton, median rent of $775/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 Housing, where the gap is 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canton is 12.2% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Canton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,443 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Canton's housing index is 48 with median homes at $120,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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