Madison vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Madison
St Cloud
The Verdict
St Cloud is 17.8% less expensive than Madison overall. A household earning $75,000 in Madison would need approximately $63,679 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 Madison has the same purchasing power as $63,679 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $88,333 in Madison.
Living in Madison vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Madison's housing index of 115 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $250,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Madison compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Madison and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Madison 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 97 in Madison and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Madison vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Madison 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 $67,565 in Madison and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,741 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 $1,577/month to housing in Madison vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/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 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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