CostIndexUSA

Lansing, MI vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is moderately cheaper than Lansing — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lansing, you would need $73,800 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.0%
Lansing
83.5
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries+1.8%
Lansing
93.7
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation7.4%
Lansing
104.5
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
Lansing
94.6
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities7.1%
Lansing
95.5
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$73,800
$6,200 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 95) = salary × 0.9221. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Lansing has 22.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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).

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.