CostIndexUSA

San Diego, CA vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than San Diego — 21.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Diego, you would need $62,600 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing63.7%
San Diego
179.3
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries11.7%
San Diego
108
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation7.5%
San Diego
104.6
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
San Diego
94.6
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities49.1%
San Diego
174.2
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$62,600
$17,400 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 111.9) = salary × 0.7828. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$904,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.2×

St. Cloud, MN

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

San Diego has 63.7% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

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).

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.