CostIndexUSA

San Luis Obispo, CA vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is significantly cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 19.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Luis Obispo, you would need $64,500 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing54.9%
San Luis Obispo
144.4
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries9.3%
San Luis Obispo
105.2
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation8.1%
San Luis Obispo
105.3
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare8.1%
San Luis Obispo
95.3
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities40.0%
San Luis Obispo
147.8
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$64,500
$15,500 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 108.6) = salary × 0.8066. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

St. Cloud, MN

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

San Luis Obispo has 54.9% lower housing costs compared to St. Cloud.

Income & Job Market

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

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 Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.