Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Sydney, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Sydney, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,895 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,673 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,734 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,593 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,572 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,513 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Saint Cloud, MN is roughly 13% more expensive than in Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 38% above, Sydney, NS 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.85 $14.85

$11.47 CA$15.87

29.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.32 $39.32

$65.9 CA$91.2

-40.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 $8.41

$7.71 CA$10.67

9.08%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$2.87 CA$3.97

60.28%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.31 CA$3.20

20.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.17 CA$3.01

3.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.28 CA$3.16

-62.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.56 CA$3.54

-41.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.46 CA$3.40

-19.51%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$3.40 CA$4.70

9.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 $9.84

$6.37 CA$8.81

54.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$8.42 CA$11.65

-20.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$13.16 CA$18.21

43.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$7.05 CA$9.76

-46.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.22 CA$1.69

-13.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.40 CA$1.94

147.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.82 CA$1.13

152.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.00 CA$2.77

43.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$6.35 CA$8.79

-68.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.91 $10.91

$17.82 CA$24.66

-38.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.29 CA$5.94

-29.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.10 CA$1.53

62.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$48.95 CA$67.7

22.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.28 CA$5.92

-17.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 $0.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.22 $12.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.16 CA$1.60

-29.31%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$26.9K CA$37.2K

11.10%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$19.1K CA$26.4K

25.22%

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

$119 $119

$90.6 CA$125

31.69%

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

$46.92 $46.92

$35.48 CA$49.10

32.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.22 $43.22

$74.8 CA$104

-42.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 $25.22

$49.57 CA$68.6

-49.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.56 $28.56

$3.63 CA$5.03

686.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 $12.12

$7.14 CA$9.87

69.75%

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

$1,728 $1,728

$721 CA$998

139.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,836 $5,836

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 $57.4

$69.1 CA$95.6

-16.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

$68.5 CA$94.7

-26.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 $72.6

$102 CA$141

-28.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 $80.7

$108 CA$150

-25.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 $946

$920 CA$1,272

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$854 $854

$726 CA$1,005

17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 $1,406

$1,829 CA$2,530

-23.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 $1,250

$1,412 CA$1,954

-11.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,004 $2,004

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,766 $1,766

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,990 $3,990

$2,568 CA$3,554

55.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

5.8

5.52%

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

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $946 in Saint Cloud, MN and $920 in Sydney, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 55% 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: $39.00 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $66.0 in Sydney, NS. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $263, with Sydney, NS cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sydney, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Cloud, MN and Sydney, NS differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,895 vs $1,673 including rent). Sydney, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 55% higher in Saint Cloud, MN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $946 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $920 in Sydney, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,895 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,673 in Sydney, NS – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sydney, NS runs roughly 22% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,673 in Sydney, NS versus $1,895 in Saint Cloud, MN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sydney, NS but tight or insufficient in Saint Cloud, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.