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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,534 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $5,510 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $7,481 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Saint Cloud, MN costs roughly 30% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 84% above, Seattle, WA 163% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.32 $18.32

$25.25 $25.25

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$120 $120

-44.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 $8.74

$13.79 $13.79

-36.62%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$5.61 $5.61

-16.22%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.00 $3.00

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.50 $2.50

-9.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.40 $5.40

$7.85 $7.85

-31.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.92 $7.92

-37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.36 $1.36

-30.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 $2.49

$4.86 $4.86

-48.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$5.31 $5.31

-31.83%

Eggs

$3.21 $3.21

$6.61 $6.61

-51.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$24.48 $24.48

-61.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$16.02 $16.02

-52.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$20.57 $20.57

-30.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$6.10 $6.10

-45.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.88 $2.88

-58.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.57 $5.57

-24.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$6.74 $6.74

-21.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.20 $3.20

-13.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.79 $3.79

-17.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.72 $2.72

-27.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.62 $2.62

-26.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.30 $10.30

$11.71 $11.71

-12.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 $11.60

$15.81 $15.81

-26.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.85 $2.85

-37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.38 $4.38

-22.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.69 $2.69

-23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

$98.9 $98.9

-40.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.63 $2.63

92.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.65 $1.65

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.05 $29.05

$29.86 $29.86

-2.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.14 $1.14

-25.44%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$32.6K $32.6K

9.95%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

-4.55%

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

$105 $105

$264 $264

-60.24%

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

$48.52 $48.52

$60.6 $60.6

-19.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 $64.7

$76.1 $76.1

-15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.49 $42.49

$78.0 $78.0

-45.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$16.19 $16.19

-27.12%

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

$1,443 $1,443

$2,253 $2,253

-35.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$29.7K $29.7K

0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.39 $39.39

$70.5 $70.5

-44.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.89 $41.89

$51.8 $51.8

-19.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 $75.3

$119 $119

-36.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 $79.8

$143 $143

-44.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$2,381 $2,381

-32.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$1,887 $1,887

-28.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$4,752 $4,752

-44.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$3,585 $3,585

-38.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 $2,040

$7,850 $7,850

-74.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,758 $1,758

$5,213 $5,213

-66.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,961 $3,961

$6,446 $6,446

-38.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.42

-1.87%

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

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: April 11, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN and $2,381 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 63% 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: $66 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $120 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $543 per month, with Saint Cloud, MN cheaper across the board.

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

Saint Cloud, MN and Seattle, WA differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($2,475 vs $3,539 including rent). Saint Cloud, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 63% less. 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: $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,381 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,475 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA – a 43% 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 68% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,539 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.

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 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.