CostIndexUSA

Santa Ana, CA vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Santa Ana
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than Santa Ana — 22.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Santa Ana, you would need $61,700 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing61.8%
Santa Ana
170.4
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries10.5%
Santa Ana
106.6
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation11.7%
Santa Ana
109.6
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare11.6%
Santa Ana
99.1
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities44.1%
Santa Ana
158.6
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$61,700
$18,300 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.7711. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Santa Ana, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Santa Ana has 61.8% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Santa Ana, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
310,227
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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).

Santa Ana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.