Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint Cloud, MN: $1,894 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $22,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint Cloud, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$1,894
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint Cloud, MN and in Seattle, WA

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 Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

  • Saint Cloud, MN $1,894
  • Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,718 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

  • Saint Cloud, MN $2,718
  • Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,543 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

  • Saint Cloud, MN $3,543
  • Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Saint Cloud, MN costs roughly 50% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 40% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.19 $15.19
$24.52 $24.52
-38.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.27 $40.27
$98.2 $98.2
-59.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.63 $8.63
$14.79 $14.79
-41.65%
Cappuccino
$4.47 $4.47
$6.52 $6.52
-31.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.23 $3.23
-10.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$3.17 $3.17
-29.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$7.85 $7.85
-22.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 $4.85
$8.03 $8.03
-39.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.21 $1.21
-23.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 $1.50
$5.14 $5.14
-70.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$6.05 $6.05
-68.60%
Eggs
$3.78 $3.78
$4.88 $4.88
-22.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$19.18 $19.18
-50.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 $6.53
$18.91 $18.91
-65.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.42 $19.42
$23.31 $23.31
-16.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$5.99 $5.99
-38.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.93 $1.93
-43.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$5.25 $5.25
-46.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.63 $3.63
$6.57 $6.57
-44.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.62 $3.62
-43.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$3.31 $3.31
-12.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.78 $2.78
-28.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.51 $2.51
22.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 $11.38
$12.18 $12.18
-6.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$14.83 $14.83
1.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$4.22 $4.22
-59.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$5.77 $5.77
-47.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.95 $2.95
-42.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.8 $59.8
$106 $106
-43.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.65 $2.65
31.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.72 $1.72
-51.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.16 $12.16
$29.72 $29.72
-59.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.49 $1.49
-38.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$35.9K $35.9K
-15.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K $23.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 $118
$302 $302
-60.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.72 $46.72
$70.1 $70.1
-33.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.38 $43.38
$85.3 $85.3
-49.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.65 $24.65
$77.8 $77.8
-68.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.09 $28.09
$34.58 $34.58
-18.77%
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 $12.18
$17.84 $17.84
-31.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,709 $1,709
$2,973 $2,973
-42.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,778 $5,778
$31.3K $31.3K
-81.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 $57.4
$76.6 $76.6
-24.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 $50.1
$54.1 $54.1
-7.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 $73.4
$128 $128
-42.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 $78.9
$164 $164
-51.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$931 $931
$2,445 $2,445
-61.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$862 $862
$1,947 $1,947
-55.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$4,744 $4,744
-71.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$3,469 $3,469
-62.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,993 $1,993
$7,367 $7,367
-72.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,745 $1,745
$5,127 $5,127
-65.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Cloud, MN
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,967 $3,967
$6,506 $6,506
-39.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.89
-4.06%

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 Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint Cloud, MN
$862
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 126% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Saint Cloud, MN
$322
Seattle, WA
$546 69.4% $224
Eating Out
Saint Cloud, MN
$262
Seattle, WA
$400 52.7% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Cloud, MN
$208
Seattle, WA
$457 120% $249
Clothing & Footwear
Saint Cloud, MN
$117
Seattle, WA
$190 62.8% $73
Getting Around
Saint Cloud, MN
$74
Seattle, WA
$129 73.9% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Saint Cloud, MN
$49
Seattle, WA
$114 132% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Saint Cloud, MN and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $546 per month, with Saint Cloud, MN cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Saint Cloud, MN
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
01:28 1:28 AM
23:28 11:28 PM
2 h behind Saint Cloud, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
67,109
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint Cloud, MN Seattle, WA 2,150 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint Cloud, MN
  • Seattle, WA

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saint Cloud, MN and in Seattle, WA?
Saint Cloud, MN and Seattle, WA differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,894 vs $3,782 including rent). Saint Cloud, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Saint Cloud, MN and in Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saint Cloud, MN or Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $1,894 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Saint Cloud, MN and in Seattle, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Saint Cloud, MN runs roughly 78% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Saint Cloud, MN but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Cloud, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Saint Cloud, MN and Seattle, WA?
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.
Where should expats move: Saint Cloud, MN or Seattle, WA?
Expats usually find Saint Cloud, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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