City Comparison

Peoria vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

15.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 15.6%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to $88,816 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
42
Peoria
82
St Cloud
Groceries
97
Peoria
101
St Cloud
Utilities
103
Peoria
95
St Cloud
Transportation
108
Peoria
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
107
Peoria
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $88,816 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $63,333 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $250,000. The $86,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Peoria and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Peoria 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 103 in Peoria and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Peoria 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 $58,700 in Peoria and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 and $66,889 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/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 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 15.6% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,816 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 42 with median homes at $164,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases