City Comparison

Little Rock vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Little Rock

Arkansas
84
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$47,638
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

6.7%

Living in Little Rock costs 6.7% less than St Cloud. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $80,357 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Little Rock
82
St Cloud
Groceries
94
Little Rock
101
St Cloud
Utilities
88
Little Rock
95
St Cloud
Transportation
98
Little Rock
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
90
Little Rock
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has the same purchasing power as $80,357 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $70,000 in Little Rock.

Living in Little Rock vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Little Rock's housing index of 62 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $250,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Little Rock compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 88 in Little Rock and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Little Rock vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Little Rock and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $47,638 in Little Rock and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,712 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 $1,112/month to housing in Little Rock vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/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 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Little Rock is 6.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,357 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Little Rock's housing index is 62 with median homes at $170,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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