City Comparison

Knoxville vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Knoxville

Tennessee
88
Below Average
$240,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$42,898
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

2.2%

Living in Knoxville costs 2.2% less than St Cloud. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $76,705 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
73
Knoxville
82
St Cloud
Groceries
94
Knoxville
101
St Cloud
Utilities
90
Knoxville
95
St Cloud
Transportation
97
Knoxville
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
93
Knoxville
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Knoxville has the same purchasing power as $76,705 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $73,333 in Knoxville.

Living in Knoxville vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Knoxville's housing index of 73 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $250,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Knoxville compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Knoxville and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Knoxville vs $480/month in St Cloud. Knoxville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 90 in Knoxville and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Knoxville vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Knoxville 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 $42,898 in Knoxville and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,748 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 $1,001/month to housing in Knoxville vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/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 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Knoxville is 2.2% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Knoxville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,705 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Knoxville's housing index is 73 with median homes at $240,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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