City Comparison

Norfolk vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Norfolk

Virginia
99
Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,938
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

10.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.0%, with St Cloud being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Norfolk has equivalent purchasing power to $68,182 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
95
Norfolk
82
St Cloud
Groceries
99
Norfolk
101
St Cloud
Utilities
97
Norfolk
95
St Cloud
Transportation
100
Norfolk
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
99
Norfolk
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Norfolk has the same purchasing power as $68,182 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $82,500 in Norfolk.

Living in Norfolk vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Norfolk's housing index of 95 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $250,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in Norfolk compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Norfolk and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Norfolk 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 Norfolk and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Norfolk vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Norfolk 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 $51,938 in Norfolk and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,463 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 $1,212/month to housing in Norfolk vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Norfolk, median rent of $1,300/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 Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 10.0% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Norfolk has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,182 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Norfolk's housing index is 95 with median homes at $250,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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