CostIndexUSA

St. Cloud, MN vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

St. Cloud is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Cloud, you would need $88,000 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+43.2%
St. Cloud
65.1
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries+1.3%
St. Cloud
95.4
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+6.5%
St. Cloud
96.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
St. Cloud
87.6
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities0.9%
St. Cloud
88.7
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.1005. 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×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 43.2% 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

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

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)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.