City Comparison

Spokane vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Spokane

Washington
98
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$48,834
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

8.9%

St Cloud is 8.9% less expensive than Spokane overall. A household earning $75,000 in Spokane would need approximately $68,878 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
94
Spokane
82
St Cloud
Groceries
99
Spokane
101
St Cloud
Utilities
98
Spokane
95
St Cloud
Transportation
101
Spokane
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
102
Spokane
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Spokane has the same purchasing power as $68,878 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $81,667 in Spokane.

Living in Spokane vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Spokane's housing index of 94 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $250,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Spokane compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Spokane and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Spokane 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 98 in Spokane and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Spokane vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Spokane 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 $48,834 in Spokane and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,831 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 $1,139/month to housing in Spokane vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Spokane, median rent of $1,200/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 12 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 8.9% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Spokane has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,878 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Spokane's housing index is 94 with median homes at $310,000, 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