Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint Cloud, MN: $1,894 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

91

Cost of Living Index in Saint Cloud, MN
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Saint Cloud, MN Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Saint Cloud, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$1,894

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint Cloud, MN and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saint Cloud, MN and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Saint Cloud, MN $1,894
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,718 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Saint Cloud, MN $2,718
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,543 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Saint Cloud, MN $3,543
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Saint Cloud, MN costs roughly 30% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 40% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.19 $15.19

$20.63 $20.63

-26.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.27 $40.27

$84.6 $84.6

-52.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 $8.63

$12.07 $12.07

-28.50%

Cappuccino

$4.47 $4.47

$5.48 $5.48

-18.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.80 $3.80

-24.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.47 $2.47

-8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$8.05 $8.05

-24.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 $4.85

$8.88 $8.88

-45.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.11 $1.11

-17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 $1.50

$3.72 $3.72

-59.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$3.37 $3.37

-43.62%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.32 $4.32

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.54 $9.54

$13.13 $13.13

-27.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$14.15 $14.15

-53.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.42 $19.42

$16.33 $16.33

18.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.55 $4.55

-19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.46 $1.46

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$4.71 $4.71

-40.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.15 $4.15

-12.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.58 $2.58

-21.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.35 $2.35

23.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.77 $1.77

12.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.14 $2.14

43.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.38 $11.38

$10.10 $10.10

12.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.19 $15.19

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.82 $2.82

-40.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.44 $3.44

-11.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.54 $1.54

11.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$40.99 $40.99

45.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.80 $2.80

24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.60 $1.60

-47.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 $12.16

$34.34 $34.34

-64.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.94 $0.94

-2.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K $30.2K

$34.0K $34.0K

-11.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K $23.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-11.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$118 $118

$223 $223

-47.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$46.72 $46.72

$58.9 $58.9

-20.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.38 $43.38

$70.6 $70.6

-38.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.65 $24.65

$57.7 $57.7

-57.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.09 $28.09

$16.53 $16.53

69.93%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 $12.18

$14.26 $14.26

-14.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,709 $1,709

$1,511 $1,511

13.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,778 $5,778

$20.9K $20.9K

-72.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 $57.4

$51.3 $51.3

12.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 $50.1

$44.17 $44.17

13.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 $73.4

$87.0 $87.0

-15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 $78.9

$104 $104

-24.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 $931

$1,940 $1,940

-52.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 $862

$1,316 $1,316

-34.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 $1,371

$3,664 $3,664

-62.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$2,565 $2,565

-49.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,993 $1,993

$7,354 $7,354

-72.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,745 $1,745

$3,129 $3,129

-44.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,967 $3,967

$5,286 $5,286

-24.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.79

-2.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: October 17, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Saint Cloud, MN

$862 45.5%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 52.8% $455

Groceries & Markets

Saint Cloud, MN

$322 17%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 26% $84

Eating Out

Saint Cloud, MN

$262 13.8%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 33.7% $88

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Saint Cloud, MN

$208 11%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 69.3% $144

Clothing & Footwear

Saint Cloud, MN

$117 6.2%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 10.4% $12

Getting Around

Saint Cloud, MN

$74 3.9%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 22.1% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Saint Cloud, MN

$49 2.6%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 75.9% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Saint Cloud, MN and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $406 per month, with Saint Cloud, MN cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Saint Cloud, MN

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

00:42 12:42 AM

Same time as Saint Cloud, MN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

67,109

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Saint Cloud, MN Austin, TX 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Saint Cloud, MN
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saint Cloud, MN vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Cloud, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Cloud, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,894 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Saint Cloud, MN runs roughly 46% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Saint Cloud, MN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Cloud, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Saint Cloud, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.