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: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,534 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,592 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 43% more expensive than Saint Cloud, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Saint Cloud, MN 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$18.32 $18.32

37.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$66.2 $66.2

81.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$8.74 $8.74

57.78%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.70 $4.70

19.36%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.70 $2.70

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.27 $2.27

10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.40 $5.40

45.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$4.93 $4.93

60.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.94 $0.94

44.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.49 $2.49

95.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.62 $3.62

46.69%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.21 $3.21

105.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$9.40 $9.40

160.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$7.65 $7.65

109.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$14.35 $14.35

43.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.35 $3.35

82.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.19 $1.19

142.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.23 $4.23

31.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.30 $5.30

27.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.76 $2.76

15.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.13 $3.13

21.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.98 $1.98

37.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.92 $1.92

36.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$10.30 $10.30

13.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$11.60 $11.60

36.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.77 $1.77

61.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.40 $3.40

28.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$58.9 $58.9

67.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$5.06 $5.06

-48.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$29.05 $29.05

2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.8K $35.8K

-9.05%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.77%

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

$264 $264

$105 $105

151.49%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$48.52 $48.52

24.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$64.7 $64.7

17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.49 $42.49

83.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$11.80 $11.80

37.20%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,443 $1,443

56.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

-0.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$39.39 $39.39

78.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$41.89 $41.89

23.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$75.3 $75.3

58.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$79.8 $79.8

78.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,609 $1,609

47.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,340 $1,340

40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,625 $2,625

81.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,205 $2,205

62.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$2,040 $2,040

284.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,758 $1,758

196.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,961 $3,961

62.73%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 63% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $66 in Saint Cloud, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $323 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 43% in total monthly costs ($3,539 vs $2,475 including rent). Saint Cloud, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 63% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN – a 43% 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 68% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN versus $3,539 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 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.