Cost of Living in St. Cloud, MN
St. Cloud, MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
87.6
U.S. average = 100 · #347 of 387
Median wage
$50,840
all jobs · $3,425/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$919
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in St. Cloud, MN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in St. Cloud, MN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.6 | −12.4% |
| Housing | 65.1 | −34.9% |
| Goods | 95.4 | −4.6% |
| Utilities | 88.7 | −11.3% |
| Other services | 92.2 | −7.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in St. Cloud, MN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $874 | $34,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $919 | $36,760/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,206 | $48,240/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,604 | $64,160/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,873 | $74,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in St. Cloud, MN
Your take-home pay
$41,096
per year · effective tax rate 19.2%
$3,425Monthly
$1,712Twice a month
$1,581Every 2 weeks
$19.76Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,921
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,152
- Medicare (1.45%)$737
- Minnesota income tax$1,934
- Take-home pay$41,096
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in St. Cloud, MN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Cloud, MN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the St. Cloud, MN metro area are 87.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 65.1%. It is the #347 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in St. Cloud, MN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,579 in St. Cloud, MN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $50,840.
How much is rent in St. Cloud, MN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for St. Cloud, MN are $874 for a studio, $919 for one bedroom, $1,206 for two bedrooms and $1,604 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in St. Cloud, MN
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $135,760
- General and Operations Manager — $89,700
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,720
- Human Resources Specialist — $74,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $73,160
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $38,730
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $105,290
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,900
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $40,130
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,100
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,270
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,540
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,680
- Bartender — $25,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,520
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $43,770
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $37,760
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $34,390
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $34,030
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,700
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $59,650
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,340
- Retail Salesperson — $34,860
- Cashier — $32,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,790
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,570
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $49,470
- Customer Service Representative — $48,120
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,840
- Office Clerks, General — $46,390
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,790
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $90,230
- Electrician — $81,890
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,530
- Carpenter — $60,600
- Construction Laborer — $57,820
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $56,120
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $48,490
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,760
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $62,820
- Machinist — $62,230
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $52,330
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $39,620
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician — $39,370
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,960
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,160
- Driver/Sales Worker — $47,210
- Light Truck Driver — $46,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,480
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,970