CostIndexUSA

Durham, NC vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Durham
97.6
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is moderately cheaper than Durham — 10.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Durham, you would need $71,800 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing34.2%
Durham
98.9
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Durham
96.6
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation6.1%
Durham
103.1
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare6.1%
Durham
93.3
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities0.7%
Durham
89.3
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Durham to see what you'd need to earn in St. Cloud to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$71,800
$8,200 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 97.6) = salary × 0.8975. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Durham, NC

Median Home Price
$402,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
98.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

St. Cloud, MN

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,175
Housing Index
65.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Durham has 34.2% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Durham, NC

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
278,993
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareEducationResearchFinance

St. Cloud, MN

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
67,984
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationRetailTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Durham, NC
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

St. Cloud, MN
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.