City Comparison

St Cloud vs Syracuse

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

St Cloud

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

Syracuse

New York
92
Below Average
$140,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$36,708
Median Income

The Verdict

2.2%

Living in St Cloud costs 2.2% less than Syracuse. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in St Cloud, you would need $76,667 in Syracuse.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
St Cloud
69
Syracuse
Groceries
101
St Cloud
101
Syracuse
Utilities
95
St Cloud
105
Syracuse
Transportation
99
St Cloud
101
Syracuse
Healthcare
100
St Cloud
100
Syracuse

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in St Cloud has the same purchasing power as $76,667 in Syracuse.

Conversely, $75,000 in Syracuse equals $73,370 in St Cloud.

Living in St Cloud vs Syracuse

Housing Costs

St Cloud's housing index of 82 is higher Syracuse's 69, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $140,000. The $110,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,152 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St Cloud compared to $950/mo in Syracuse, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in St Cloud and 101 in Syracuse. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in St Cloud vs $480/month in Syracuse. 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 105 in Syracuse. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St Cloud vs $420 in Syracuse. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in St Cloud and 100 in Syracuse. 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 $36,708 in Syracuse. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,889 and $39,900 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 $857/month in Syracuse. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Syracuse, median rent of $950/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 2.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in St Cloud has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,667 in Syracuse, based on the cost of living difference.
St Cloud's housing index is 82 with median homes at $250,000, while Syracuse's is 69 with median homes at $140,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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