St Cloud vs Tempe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St Cloud
Tempe
The Verdict
St Cloud is 15.1% less expensive than Tempe overall. A household earning $75,000 in St Cloud would need approximately $88,333 in Tempe 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 $88,333 in Tempe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tempe equals $63,679 in St Cloud.
Living in St Cloud vs Tempe
Housing Costs
St Cloud's housing index of 82 is lower Tempe's 114, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $400,000. The $150,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St Cloud compared to $1,600/mo in Tempe, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in St Cloud and 100 in Tempe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in St Cloud vs $475/month in Tempe. 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 96 in Tempe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St Cloud vs $384 in Tempe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in St Cloud and 95 in Tempe. 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 $56,068 in Tempe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,889 and $52,894 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 $1,308/month in Tempe. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Tempe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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