CostIndexUSA

San Jose, CA vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Jose
110.4
overall index
$3,400/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than San Jose — 20.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Jose, you would need $63,500 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing69.3%
San Jose
211.9
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries9.3%
San Jose
105.2
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation8.1%
San Jose
105.3
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare8.1%
San Jose
95.3
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities43.4%
San Jose
156.7
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$63,500
$16,500 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 110.4) = salary × 0.7935. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Jose, CA

Median Home Price
$1,569,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,400
Housing Index
211.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
38.5×

St. Cloud, MN

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

San Jose has 69.3% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

San Jose, CA

Median Household Income
$153,200
Per Capita Income
$87,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
1,013,240
Top Industries
TechnologySemiconductorsSoftwareHealthcareFinance

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).

San Jose, CA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.