CostIndexUSA

Portland, OR vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than Portland — 16.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $66,500 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing48.0%
Portland
125.1
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries9.3%
Portland
105.2
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation7.9%
Portland
105.1
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare7.9%
Portland
95.1
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities17.1%
Portland
107
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$66,500
$13,500 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 105.4) = salary × 0.8311. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Portland, OR

Median Home Price
$536,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
125.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Portland has 48.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Portland, OR

Median Household Income
$94,900
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
652,503
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

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).

Portland, OR
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.