City Comparison

Juneau vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

41.1%

St Cloud is 41.1% less expensive than Juneau overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $53,150 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Juneau
82
St Cloud
Groceries
123
Juneau
101
St Cloud
Utilities
140
Juneau
95
St Cloud
Transportation
125
Juneau
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
151
Juneau
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $53,150 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $105,833 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $250,000. The $274,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,808 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $480/month in St Cloud. St Cloud offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1248/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau 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 151 in Juneau and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 51-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $66,889 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 41.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,150 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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