City Comparison

Murfreesboro vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Murfreesboro

Tennessee
93
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

3.3%

Living in St Cloud costs 3.3% less than Murfreesboro. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro, you would need $72,581 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
85
Murfreesboro
82
St Cloud
Groceries
95
Murfreesboro
101
St Cloud
Utilities
89
Murfreesboro
95
St Cloud
Transportation
97
Murfreesboro
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
96
Murfreesboro
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro has the same purchasing power as $72,581 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $77,500 in Murfreesboro.

Living in Murfreesboro vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Murfreesboro's housing index of 85 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $250,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Murfreesboro compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Murfreesboro and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Murfreesboro vs $480/month in St Cloud. Murfreesboro offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Murfreesboro and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Murfreesboro vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Murfreesboro 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 $55,200 in Murfreesboro and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,355 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 $1,288/month to housing in Murfreesboro vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Murfreesboro, median rent of $1,350/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 Groceries, where the gap is 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 3.3% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,581 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Murfreesboro's housing index is 85 with median homes at $325,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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