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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,431 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,593 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,755 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 47% more expensive than in Saint Cloud, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Saint Cloud, MN 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$18.05 $18.05

37.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$65.2 $65.2

82.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.32 $8.32

70.07%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.76 $4.76

19.96%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.77 $2.77

5.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.19 $2.19

15.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.60 $5.60

40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.03 $5.03

60.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.89 $0.89

52.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.38 $2.38

113.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.70 $3.70

41.89%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.17 $3.17

117.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$9.10 $9.10

174.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$7.82 $7.82

101.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.15 $14.15

46.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.39 $3.39

82.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.20 $1.20

132.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.22 $4.22

30.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.14 $5.14

24.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.62 $2.62

20.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.19 $3.19

21.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.02 $2.02

33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.91 $1.91

32.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.64 $10.64

6.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.03 $15.03

4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.75 $1.75

64.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.59 $3.59

18.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$60.6 $60.6

63.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$5.10 $5.10

-49.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.42 $1.42

14.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.44 $29.44

0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$35.6K $35.6K

-7.87%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.71%

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

$264 $264

$105 $105

151.06%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$49.13 $49.13

25.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$64.7 $64.7

16.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.69 $42.69

82.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$11.79 $11.79

36.64%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,474 $1,474

50.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-1.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$39.51 $39.51

75.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$41.29 $41.29

30.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$73.7 $73.7

61.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$80.3 $80.3

76.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,631 $1,631

44.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,339 $1,339

36.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,655 $2,655

76.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,204 $2,204

62.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,995 $1,995

277.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,785 $1,785

182.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,066 $4,066

59.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.3

1.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,631 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $65.0 in Saint Cloud, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $327 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

Seattle, WA vs Saint Cloud, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Saint Cloud, MN differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $2,431 including rent). Saint Cloud, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,631 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,431 in Saint Cloud, MN – a 47% 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 63% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,431 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,565 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 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.