Roanoke vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Roanoke
St Cloud
The Verdict
Roanoke is 10.0% less expensive than St Cloud overall. A household earning $75,000 in Roanoke would need approximately $83,333 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 Roanoke has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in St Cloud.
Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $67,500 in Roanoke.
Living in Roanoke vs St Cloud
Housing Costs
Roanoke's housing index of 57 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $225,000 vs $250,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Roanoke compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Roanoke and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Roanoke 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 116 in Roanoke and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $464 in Roanoke vs $380 in St Cloud. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Roanoke and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $52,700 in Roanoke and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,062 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 $1,230/month to housing in Roanoke vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Roanoke, median rent of $1,075/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 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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