CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 13.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $69,300 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−46.0%
Fort Collins
120.6
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries−0.7%
Fort Collins
96.1
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation−7.6%
Fort Collins
104.8
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare−7.6%
Fort Collins
94.8
St. Cloud
87.6
⚡ Utilities+7.9%
Fort Collins
82.2
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$69,300
$10,700 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.8665. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Fort Collins has 46.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×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)

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

St. Cloud vs other cities

St. Cloud, MN
vs
Duluth, MN
Index: 87.6Index: 88.8
St. Cloud, MN
vs
Minneapolis, MN
Index: 87.6Index: 104.8
St. Cloud, MN
vs
Rochester, MN
Index: 87.6Index: 90.8
St. Cloud, MN
vs
Johnson City, TN
Index: 87.6Index: 87.9
St. Cloud, MN
vs
Portland, ME
Index: 87.6Index: 101.9

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.