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: $2,431 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,860 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,593 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $2,779 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,755 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,698 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Saint Cloud, MN is roughly 31% more expensive than in Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Cloud, MN 82% above, Sydney, NS 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.05 $18.05

$11.82 CA$16.64

52.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.2 $65.2

$63.0 CA$88.6

3.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 $8.32

$7.34 CA$10.32

13.35%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$2.88 CA$4.06

65.28%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.25 CA$3.17

23.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.98 CA$2.79

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.44 CA$7.66

2.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.92 CA$8.33

-15.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$2.27 CA$3.20

-60.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.69 CA$3.78

-11.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.50 CA$3.52

48.00%

Eggs

$3.17 $3.17

$3.39 CA$4.77

-6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 $9.10

$6.68 CA$9.40

36.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.23 CA$11.58

-4.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$13.45 CA$18.93

5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$7.46 CA$10.50

-54.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.20 CA$1.69

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.62 CA$5.09

16.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$1.43 CA$2.02

259.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.88 CA$1.23

197.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.53 CA$3.55

26.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.51 CA$3.53

-19.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.70 CA$2.39

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.64 $10.64

$18.15 CA$25.54

-41.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.86 CA$4.02

-38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.44 CA$6.24

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.11 CA$1.57

75.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.6 $60.6

$50.2 CA$70.6

20.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.49 CA$6.32

13.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.49 CA$2.09

-4.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.44 $29.44

$25.46 CA$35.82

15.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.16 CA$1.64

-31.03%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

39.88%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$20.4K CA$28.7K

26.21%

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

$105 $105

$91.6 CA$129

14.68%

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

$49.13 $49.13

$48.19 CA$67.8

1.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 $64.7

$75.7 CA$106

-14.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.69 $42.69

$51.2 CA$72.1

-16.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.74 CA$5.26

Cinema Ticket

$11.79 $11.79

$7.98 CA$11.23

47.74%

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

$1,474 $1,474

$746 CA$1,050

97.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K $29.4K

$11.7K CA$16.5K

151.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.51 $39.51

$70.9 CA$99.7

-44.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.29 $41.29

$68.6 CA$96.5

-39.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$101 CA$143

-27.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 $80.3

$110 CA$155

-26.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,631 $1,631

$1,106 CA$1,557

47.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 $1,339

$794 CA$1,117

68.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$1,957 CA$2,754

35.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$1,448 CA$2,038

52.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 $1,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,785 $1,785

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,066 $4,066

$2,534 CA$3,566

60.44%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,631 in Saint Cloud, MN and $1,106 in Sydney, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 60% 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: $65.0 in Saint Cloud, MN vs $63.0 in Sydney, NS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $302 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 31% in total monthly costs ($2,431 vs $1,860 including rent). Sydney, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 60% 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: $1,631 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,106 in Sydney, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,431 per month in Saint Cloud, MN versus $1,860 in Sydney, NS – a 31% 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 $1,860 in Sydney, NS versus $2,431 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 31% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.