CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than Sacramento — 17.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $65,700 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing50.0%
Sacramento
130.2
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries9.3%
Sacramento
105.2
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation8.1%
Sacramento
105.3
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare8.1%
Sacramento
95.3
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities41.4%
Sacramento
151.3
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$65,700
$14,300 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.8210. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Sacramento has 50.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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).

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.