Great Falls vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Great Falls
St Cloud
The Verdict
Great Falls is 2.2% less expensive than St Cloud overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $76,705 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has the same purchasing power as $76,705 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $73,333 in Great Falls.
Living in Great Falls vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Great Falls's housing index of 82 is equal to St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $250,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls 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 90 in Great Falls and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls 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 $55,800 in Great Falls and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 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 $1,302/month to housing in Great Falls vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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