City Comparison

Louisville vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Louisville

Kentucky
91
Below Average
$210,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$52,238
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

1.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 1.1%, with St Cloud being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Louisville has equivalent purchasing power to $74,176 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
77
Louisville
82
St Cloud
Groceries
96
Louisville
101
St Cloud
Utilities
91
Louisville
95
St Cloud
Transportation
100
Louisville
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
93
Louisville
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Louisville has the same purchasing power as $74,176 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $75,833 in Louisville.

Living in Louisville vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Louisville's housing index of 77 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $210,000 vs $250,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Louisville compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Louisville and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Louisville 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 91 in Louisville and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Louisville vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Louisville 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 $52,238 in Louisville and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,404 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 $1,219/month to housing in Louisville vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Louisville, median rent of $1,100/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 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 1.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Louisville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,176 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Louisville's housing index is 77 with median homes at $210,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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