What is the cost of living in St. Cloud, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Cloud has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, St. Cloud has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in St. Cloud ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies St. Cloud ranks as the #122 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in St. Cloud, check out:
St. Cloud Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Cloud. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Cloud is 99.
The Groceries index in St. Cloud is 101.
The Health index in St. Cloud is 86.
The Housing index in St. Cloud is 101.
The Transportation index in St. Cloud is 104.
The Utilities index in St. Cloud is 102.
| Living Expense | St. Cloud | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 86 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
St. Cloud Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in St. Cloud Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Cloud, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in St. Cloud is $253,365.
The Median Rent in St. Cloud is $1,003.
The Median Income in St. Cloud is $61,374.
The Home Value To Income in St. Cloud is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Cloud is 0.2x.
St. Cloud, MN Costs By Category
Detailed St. Cloud Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Cloud Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Cloud Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed St. Cloud Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
St. Cloud SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Cloud
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Cloud. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plymouth, MN has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x St. Cloud.
Maple Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x St. Cloud.
Andover, MN has a cost of living index of 122, 1.3x St. Cloud.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, MN | 79,220 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Maple Grove, MN | 71,173 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Andover, MN | 33,035 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Champlin, MN | 23,294 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Sartell, MN | 19,758 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Sauk Rapids, MN | 13,852 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Rogers, MN | 13,685 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Mound, MN | 9,107 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Minnetrista, MN | 8,708 | 147 | 1.5x |
| Waite Park, MN | 8,399 | 96 | 1.0x |
