CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is slightly cheaper than Chattanooga — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $76,600 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.0%
Chattanooga
76.6
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Chattanooga
96
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Chattanooga
100.1
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
Chattanooga
90.5
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities+19.5%
Chattanooga
74.2
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$76,600
$3,400 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9574. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Chattanooga has 15.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.