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: $2,397 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,863 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,558 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,830 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,718 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,796 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Saint Cloud, MN is roughly 29% more expensive than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 79% above, Sydney, NS 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.72 $17.72

$11.89 CA$16.53

49.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.0 $67.0

$62.6 CA$87.1

6.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 $8.74

$7.10 CA$9.87

23.10%

Cappuccino

$4.72 $4.72

$2.98 CA$4.15

58.39%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.20 CA$3.06

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.99 CA$2.77

14.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 $5.46

$5.61 CA$7.81

-2.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$6.00 CA$8.35

-17.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.37 CA$3.30

-59.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.69 CA$3.74

-10.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.63 CA$3.66

37.64%

Eggs

$3.33 $3.33

$3.54 CA$4.92

-5.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 $9.32

$6.67 CA$9.27

39.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.68 $7.68

$8.32 CA$11.56

-7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 $14.37

$13.39 CA$18.63

7.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$7.52 CA$10.46

-53.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.23 CA$1.71

-5.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.76 CA$5.23

11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$1.45 CA$2.02

254.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.90 CA$1.25

194.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.65 CA$3.69

21.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.49 CA$3.46

-19.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.79 CA$2.49

5.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$18.53 CA$25.77

-43.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.80 CA$3.89

-38.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.35 CA$6.05

-17.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.12 CA$1.56

75.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.1 $61.1

$50.6 CA$70.4

20.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.40 CA$6.12

15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.48 CA$2.06

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.93 $28.93

$25.32 CA$35.22

14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.20 CA$1.67

-32.50%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

40.58%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$20.5K CA$28.5K

25.42%

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

$104 $104

$91.9 CA$128

13.10%

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

$48.78 $48.78

$46.94 CA$65.3

3.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 $64.6

$74.9 CA$104

-13.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.70 $42.70

$50.4 CA$70.1

-15.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 CA$5.07

Cinema Ticket

$11.83 $11.83

$8.18 CA$11.38

44.62%

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

$1,435 $1,435

$748 CA$1,040

91.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$11.7K CA$16.3K

155.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.50 $38.50

$72.3 CA$101

-46.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.75 $41.75

$69.6 CA$96.8

-40.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$101 CA$141

-27.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 $79.9

$108 CA$151

-26.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$1,100 CA$1,530

46.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 $1,331

$814 CA$1,131

63.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$1,926 CA$2,679

35.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$1,435 CA$1,996

52.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 $2,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,771 $1,771

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,038 $4,038

$2,630 CA$3,657

53.57%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Saint Cloud, MN and $1,100 in Sydney, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 54% 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: $67.0 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $63.0 in Sydney, NS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $307 per month, with Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Cloud, MN and Sydney, NS differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,397 vs $1,863 including rent). Sydney, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 54% 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: $1,608 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,100 in Sydney, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,397 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,863 in Sydney, NS – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sydney, NS runs roughly 21% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,863 in Sydney, NS versus $2,397 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 29% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.