CostIndexUSA

St. Cloud, MN vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent
KS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

St. Cloud is slightly cheaper than Wichita — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Cloud, you would need $81,200 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.7%
St. Cloud
65.1
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries1.5%
St. Cloud
95.4
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
St. Cloud
96.8
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
St. Cloud
87.6
Wichita
89.1
Utilities≈ Equal
St. Cloud
88.7
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.0148. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Wichita has 1.7% 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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.