Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Saint Cloud, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Saint Cloud, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,863 in Sydney, NS versus $2,397 in Saint Cloud, MN.

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

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

Living in Sydney, NS costs roughly 22% less than in Saint Cloud, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 CA$16.53

$17.72 $17.72

-32.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.1

$67.0 $67.0

-6.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 CA$9.87

$8.74 $8.74

-18.76%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CA$4.15

$4.72 $4.72

-36.86%

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

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.70 $2.70

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.77

$2.27 $2.27

-12.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 CA$7.81

$5.46 $5.46

2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CA$8.35

$4.94 $4.94

21.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$0.97 $0.97

144.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.74

$2.41 $2.41

11.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.66

$3.62 $3.62

-27.35%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.33 $3.33

6.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 CA$9.27

$9.32 $9.32

-28.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CA$11.56

$7.68 $7.68

8.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.63

$14.37 $14.37

-6.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 CA$10.46

$3.52 $3.52

113.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.16 $1.16

6.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.23

$4.20 $4.20

-10.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$5.14 $5.14

-71.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 CA$1.25

$2.65 $2.65

-66.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$3.21 $3.21

-17.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.00 $2.00

24.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$1.89 $1.89

-5.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.77

$10.54 $10.54

75.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.72 $1.72

62.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.57 $3.57

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.97 $1.97

-43.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 CA$70.4

$61.1 $61.1

-17.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 CA$6.12

$5.06 $5.06

-13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$1.38 $1.38

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.22

$28.93 $28.93

-12.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

-28.86%

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

$20.5K CA$28.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

-20.27%

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

$91.9 CA$128

$104 $104

-11.59%

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

$46.94 CA$65.3

$48.78 $48.78

-3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 CA$104

$64.6 $64.6

15.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 CA$70.1

$42.70 $42.70

18.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 CA$5.07

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 CA$11.38

$11.83 $11.83

-30.85%

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

$748 CA$1,040

$1,435 $1,435

-47.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

-60.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 CA$101

$38.50 $38.50

87.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 CA$96.8

$41.75 $41.75

66.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$141

$73.9 $73.9

37.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$79.9 $79.9

35.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 CA$1,530

$1,608 $1,608

-31.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$814 CA$1,131

$1,331 $1,331

-38.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 CA$2,679

$2,619 $2,619

-26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$1,996

$2,182 $2,182

-34.23%

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)

$2,630 CA$3,657

$4,038 $4,038

-34.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

6.3

8.73%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,100 in Sydney, NS and $1,608 in Saint Cloud, MN. 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: $63.0 in Sydney, NS vs $67.0 in Saint Cloud, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $329 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

Sydney, NS vs Saint Cloud, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Saint Cloud, MN earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,100 in Sydney, NS versus $1,608 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,863 per month in Sydney, NS versus $2,397 in Saint Cloud, MN – 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.