CostIndexUSA

St. Cloud, MN vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent
NJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than Trenton — 17.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Cloud, you would need $94,200 in Trenton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+107.5%
St. Cloud
65.1
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
St. Cloud
95.4
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation+6.2%
St. Cloud
96.8
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare+6.2%
St. Cloud
87.6
Trenton
93
Utilities+26.6%
St. Cloud
88.7
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$94,200
$14,200 more needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.1781. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Cloud, MN

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 107.5% higher housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

St. Cloud, MN

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

81% of income left after rent (median)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.