CostIndexUSA

Rochester, NY vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is moderately cheaper than Rochester — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $72,200 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.6%
Rochester
87.5
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries4.3%
Rochester
99.7
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation5.7%
Rochester
102.6
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare5.7%
Rochester
92.9
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities33.4%
Rochester
133.2
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 97) = salary × 0.9031. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

St. Cloud, MN

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

Rochester has 25.6% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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).

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.