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: $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,880 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,534 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,831 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,782 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Saint Cloud, MN is roughly 32% more expensive than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 84% above, Sydney, NS 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.32 $18.32

$11.69 CA$16.02

56.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$61.2 CA$83.8

8.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 $8.74

$7.06 CA$9.67

23.80%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$3.00 CA$4.12

56.67%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.20 CA$3.01

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.98 CA$2.71

14.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.40 $5.40

$5.57 CA$7.64

-3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$5.74 CA$7.87

-14.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.25 CA$3.09

-58.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.59 CA$3.55

-3.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.54 CA$3.48

42.52%

Eggs

$3.21 $3.21

$3.54 CA$4.85

-9.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$6.57 CA$9.01

43.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$8.72 CA$11.95

-12.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$13.88 CA$19.02

3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$7.33 CA$10.05

-54.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.25 CA$1.71

-4.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.63 CA$4.98

16.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.43 CA$1.96

270.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$0.85 CA$1.16

224.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.52 CA$3.45

24.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.43 CA$3.32

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.74 CA$2.38

10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.30 $10.30

$18.69 CA$25.61

-44.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 $11.60

$11.68 CA$16.00

-0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.85 CA$3.91

-37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.29 CA$5.88

-20.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.13 CA$1.55

81.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

$49.24 CA$67.5

19.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.53 CA$6.21

11.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 CA$1.95

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.05 $29.05

$25.31 CA$34.67

14.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.16 CA$1.58

-26.72%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$24.9K CA$34.2K

43.77%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$20.1K CA$27.5K

25.41%

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

$105 $105

$90.9 CA$124

15.57%

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

$48.52 $48.52

$48.11 CA$65.9

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 $64.7

$76.9 CA$105

-15.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.49 $42.49

$50.3 CA$68.9

-15.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 CA$4.98

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$7.97 CA$10.91

48.06%

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

$1,443 $1,443

$741 CA$1,015

94.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$11.8K CA$16.2K

152.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.39 $39.39

$71.7 CA$98.2

-45.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.89 $41.89

$68.1 CA$93.3

-38.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 $75.3

$104 CA$142

-27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 $79.8

$109 CA$149

-26.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$1,089 CA$1,491

47.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$811 CA$1,111

65.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$1,962 CA$2,687

33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$1,443 CA$1,977

52.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 $2,040

$5,060 CA$6,933

-59.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,758 $1,758

$3,746 CA$5,132

-53.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,961 $3,961

$2,560 CA$3,507

54.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.85

-8.03%

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 Sydney, NS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN and $1,089 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: $66 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $61 in Sydney, NS. Groceries flip the comparison at $323 vs $328, with Saint Cloud, MN 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 32% in total monthly costs ($2,475 vs $1,880 including rent). Sydney, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 55% more on average, 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: $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,089 in Sydney, NS. 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 $1,880 in Sydney, NS – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sydney, NS runs roughly 20% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,880 in Sydney, NS versus $2,475 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 32% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.