City Comparison

Springfield vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

St Cloud

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

The Verdict

13.3%

Springfield is 13.3% less expensive than St Cloud overall. A household earning $75,000 in Springfield would need approximately $86,538 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Springfield
82
St Cloud
Groceries
98
Springfield
101
St Cloud
Utilities
98
Springfield
95
St Cloud
Transportation
114
Springfield
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
91
Springfield
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Springfield has the same purchasing power as $86,538 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $65,000 in Springfield.

Living in Springfield vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Springfield's housing index of 52 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $250,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Springfield compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Springfield and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Springfield 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 Springfield and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Springfield vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Springfield 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 $65,500 in Springfield and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,974 and $66,889 respectively. Springfield residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Springfield vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Springfield, median rent of $925/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 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 13.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Springfield has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,538 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Springfield's housing index is 52 with median homes at $162,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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