Moving from St. Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN-WI
About 4,134 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020), and 6,436 go the other way. Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in Minneapolis, MN-WI.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 22.1% of income in St. Cloud, MN and 22.1% in Minneapolis, MN-WI.
St. Cloud, MN Minneapolis, MN-WI (monthly)
| Monthly | St. Cloud, MN | Minneapolis, MN-WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,289 | $1,289 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $270 | $270 | $0 |
| Paid Leave (employee share)2026 tax law | $26 | $26 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $4,544 | $4,544 | $0 |
| Housing | $961 | $1,427 | +$466 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $961 | $1,427 | +$466 |
| Food | $420 | $454 | +$34 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 103.1 | $420 | $454 | +$34 |
| Transportation | $168 | $168 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.20/gal (MN weekly average) | $168 | $168 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $33 | $35 | +$3 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6.875% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $33 | $35 | +$3 |
| Other goods & services | $938 | $1,037 | +$99 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 103.1 | $477 | $515 | +$38 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 104.4 | $461 | $522 | +$61 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $2,024 | $1,422 | −$602 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 16.7% of income in St. Cloud, MN and 16.7% in Minneapolis, MN-WI.
St. Cloud, MN Minneapolis, MN-WI (monthly)
| Monthly | St. Cloud, MN | Minneapolis, MN-WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,667 | $1,667 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $388 | $388 | $0 |
| Paid Leave (employee share)2026 tax law | $44 | $44 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $8,333 | $8,333 | $0 |
| Housing | $1,233 | $1,734 | +$501 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,233 | $1,734 | +$501 |
| Childcare | $3,104 | $2,892 | −$212 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2022 · preschool $309/wk, school-age $237/wk (2022 prices, Hennepin County, MN); × 1.2224 BLS CPI day care, 2022 to 2026-08 | $3,104 | $2,892 | −$212 |
| Food | $1,224 | $1,322 | +$98 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 103.1 | $1,224 | $1,322 | +$98 |
| Transportation | $336 | $336 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.20/gal (MN weekly average) | $336 | $336 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $33 | $35 | +$3 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6.875% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $33 | $35 | +$3 |
| Other goods & services | $938 | $1,037 | +$99 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 103.1 | $477 | $515 | +$38 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 104.4 | $461 | $522 | +$61 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $1,465 | $976 | −$489 |
St. Cloud, MN vs Minneapolis, MN-WI at a glance
| Measure | St. Cloud, MN | Minneapolis, MN-WI |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 87.6 | 104.8 |
| Housing price level | 65.1 | 111.8 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $961 | $1,427 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,233 | $1,734 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,656 | $2,264 |
| Median home value | $272,800 | $374,000 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 1.00% | 1.06% |
| Median household income | $76,497 | $99,833 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $431 | $390 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | None in our data | None in our data |
| State sales tax | 6.875% | 6.875% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.20 | $4.20 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $118 | $118 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in Minneapolis, MN-WI to keep my St. Cloud, MN lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in St. Cloud, MN, about $81,438 in Minneapolis, MN-WI (+16.3%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $128,026. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is Minneapolis, MN-WI cheaper than St. Cloud, MN?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, Minneapolis, MN-WI is at 104.8 and St. Cloud, MN at 87.6 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have −$602 a month in Minneapolis, MN-WI.
How many people move from St. Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN-WI?+
About 4,134 people a year (±563), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020); about 6,436 move the other way.
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.