St Cloud vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St Cloud
St. Paul
The Verdict
St Cloud is 10.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in St Cloud would need approximately $83,333 in St. Paul 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 St Cloud has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $67,500 in St Cloud.
Living in St Cloud vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
St Cloud's housing index of 82 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $260,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St Cloud compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in St Cloud and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in St Cloud vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 95 in St Cloud and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St Cloud vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in St Cloud and 105 in St. Paul. 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 $60,200 in St Cloud and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,889 and $57,718 respectively. St Cloud residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,405/month to housing in St Cloud vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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