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: $1,880 in Sydney, NS versus $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,831 in Sydney, NS versus $3,534 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,782 in Sydney, NS versus $4,592 in Saint Cloud, MN.

Living in Sydney, NS costs roughly 24% less than in Saint Cloud, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney, NS 40% above, Saint Cloud, MN 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 CA$16.02

$18.32 $18.32

-36.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 CA$83.8

$66.2 $66.2

-7.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 CA$9.67

$8.74 $8.74

-19.22%

Cappuccino

$3.00 CA$4.12

$4.70 $4.70

-36.17%

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

$2.20 CA$3.01

$2.70 $2.70

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$2.27 $2.27

-12.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.57 CA$7.64

$5.40 $5.40

3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CA$7.87

$4.93 $4.93

16.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.09

$0.94 $0.94

139.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 CA$3.55

$2.49 $2.49

4.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.48

$3.62 $3.62

-29.83%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.85

$3.21 $3.21

10.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.57 CA$9.01

$9.40 $9.40

-30.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.72 CA$11.95

$7.65 $7.65

13.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 CA$19.02

$14.35 $14.35

-3.28%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 CA$10.05

$3.35 $3.35

118.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.71

$1.19 $1.19

5.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$4.98

$4.23 $4.23

-14.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.96

$5.30 $5.30

-73.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 CA$1.16

$2.76 $2.76

-69.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 CA$3.45

$3.13 $3.13

-19.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 CA$3.32

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.38

$1.92 $1.92

-9.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.69 CA$25.61

$10.30 $10.30

81.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 CA$16.00

$11.60 $11.60

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 CA$3.91

$1.77 $1.77

61.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$3.40 $3.40

26.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$2.05 $2.05

-44.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.24 CA$67.5

$58.9 $58.9

-16.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.53 CA$6.21

$5.06 $5.06

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.95

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.31 CA$34.67

$29.05 $29.05

-12.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.58

$0.85 $0.85

36.47%

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

$24.9K CA$34.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-30.45%

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

$20.1K CA$27.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

-20.26%

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

$90.9 CA$124

$105 $105

-13.47%

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

$48.11 CA$65.9

$48.52 $48.52

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.9 CA$105

$64.7 $64.7

19.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 CA$68.9

$42.49 $42.49

18.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 CA$4.98

Cinema Ticket

$7.97 CA$10.91

$11.80 $11.80

-32.46%

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

$741 CA$1,015

$1,443 $1,443

-48.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.2K

$29.9K $29.9K

-60.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.7 CA$98.2

$39.39 $39.39

81.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.1 CA$93.3

$41.89 $41.89

62.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$142

$75.3 $75.3

37.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$149

$79.8 $79.8

36.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,491

$1,609 $1,609

-32.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 CA$1,111

$1,340 $1,340

-39.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,962 CA$2,687

$2,625 $2,625

-25.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,443 CA$1,977

$2,205 $2,205

-34.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,060 CA$6,933

$2,040 $2,040

148.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,746 CA$5,132

$1,758 $1,758

113.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,560 CA$3,507

$3,961 $3,961

-35.39%

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: April 12, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,089 in Sydney, NS and $1,609 in Saint Cloud, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Cloud, MN pays 55% 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: $61 in Sydney, NS vs $66 in Saint Cloud, MN. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $323, with Saint Cloud, MN cheaper for home cooking.

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 32% in total monthly costs ($1,880 vs $2,475 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 55% 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: $1,089 in Sydney, NS 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 $1,880 per month in Sydney, NS versus $2,475 in Saint Cloud, MN – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sydney, NS runs roughly 20% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,880 in Sydney, NS versus $2,475 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 32% less than in Saint Cloud, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.