Lakewood vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lakewood
St Cloud
The Verdict
St Cloud is 47.8% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lakewood would need approximately $50,752 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 Lakewood has the same purchasing power as $50,752 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $110,833 in Lakewood.
Living in Lakewood vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Lakewood's housing index of 188 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $574,000 vs $250,000. The $324,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Lakewood compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $850.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Lakewood and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Lakewood 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 85 in Lakewood and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $340 in Lakewood vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 84 in Lakewood and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $83,800 in Lakewood and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,008 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 $1,955/month to housing in Lakewood vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Lakewood, 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 106 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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