City Comparison

Durham vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Durham

North Carolina
101
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$57,738
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%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.2%, with St Cloud being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to $66,832 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
104
Durham
82
St Cloud
Groceries
100
Durham
101
St Cloud
Utilities
93
Durham
95
St Cloud
Transportation
100
Durham
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
108
Durham
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $66,832 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $84,167 in Durham.

Living in Durham vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Durham's housing index of 104 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $250,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham 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 93 in Durham and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham 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 $57,738 in Durham and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 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 $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/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 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 12.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 101.
A $75,000 salary in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,832 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Durham's housing index is 104 with median homes at $340,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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