City Comparison

Franklin vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

54.4%

Living in St Cloud costs 54.4% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Franklin, you would need $48,561 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
230
Franklin
82
St Cloud
Groceries
100
Franklin
101
St Cloud
Utilities
97
Franklin
95
St Cloud
Transportation
90
Franklin
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
91
Franklin
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Franklin has the same purchasing power as $48,561 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $115,833 in Franklin.

Living in Franklin vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Franklin's housing index of 230 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $250,000. The $500,000 difference in home prices means roughly $32,496 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Franklin compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Franklin and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Franklin 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 97 in Franklin and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Franklin vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Franklin and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $118,200 in Franklin and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,036 and $66,889 respectively. Franklin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,758/month to housing in Franklin vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/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 148 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 54.4% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Franklin has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,561 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Franklin's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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