Reno vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Reno
St Cloud
The Verdict
St Cloud is 23.3% less expensive than Reno overall. A household earning $75,000 in Reno would need approximately $60,811 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 Reno has the same purchasing power as $60,811 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $92,500 in Reno.
Living in Reno vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Reno's housing index of 133 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $450,000 vs $250,000. The $200,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,996 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Reno compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Reno and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Reno 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 93 in Reno and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Reno vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Reno 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 $61,648 in Reno and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,539 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 $1,438/month to housing in Reno vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Reno, median rent of $1,600/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 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases