Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Rochester compared to St. Cloud? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Rochester | Metric | St. Cloud | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Cost of Living Index | 88 | -8.3% |
| $295,000 | Median Home Price | $235,000 | -20.3% |
| $1,150 | Median Monthly Rent | $950 | -17.4% |
| $78,500 | Median Household Income | $55,800 | -28.9% |
| 1.2% | Property Tax Rate | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2.7% | Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | +29.6% |
| 18 min | Average Commute | 20 min | +11.1% |
| 35.8 | Median Age | 32.5 | -9.2% |
| 225,000 | Metro Population | 205,000 | -8.9% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Rochester costs $1,873/month (PITI) compared to $1,492/month in St. Cloud — a difference of $381/month or $4,572/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.8x in Rochester versus 4.2x in St. Cloud, suggesting Rochester is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.0 years to save a down payment in Rochester compared to 5.6 years in St. Cloud.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Rochester | St. Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $78,500 | $55,800 |
| State Income Tax | $3,496 | $1,952 |
| Federal Income Tax | $8,719 | $4,567 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $6,005 | $4,269 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,540/yr | $2,820/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Total Tax Burden | $18,220 (23.2%) | $10,788 (19.3%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $60,280 | $45,012 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $18,220 in Rochester (23.2% effective) versus $10,788 in St. Cloud (19.3% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $60,280 in Rochester and $45,012 in St. Cloud. Property taxes add $3,540/year on the median Rochester home versus $2,820/year in St. Cloud.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $78,500 in Rochester (COL 96) and relocate to St. Cloud (COL 88), you would need $71,958 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $6,542 and still maintain your lifestyle in St. Cloud.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Rochester is 18 minutes versus 20 minutes in St. Cloud, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Rochester's lower unemployment rate of 2.7% versus 3.5% suggests a stronger job market. Rochester skews slightly older with a median age of 35.8 vs 32.5 in St. Cloud.
Rochester is 8.3% more expensive than St. Cloud overall. Rochester has a cost of living index of 96 compared to 88 for St. Cloud (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $295,000 in Rochester vs $235,000 in St. Cloud.
The median home price in Rochester is $295,000, which is $60,000 more than St. Cloud's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,150/month in Rochester vs $950/month in St. Cloud, a difference of $200/month or $2,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $78,500 salary in Rochester is equivalent to $71,958 in St. Cloud. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Rochester's COL index of 96 vs St. Cloud's 88. Conversely, $55,800 in St. Cloud equals $60,873 in Rochester.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $18,220 (23.2% effective rate) in Rochester vs $10,788 (19.3% effective rate) in St. Cloud. Property taxes on the median home are $3,540/year in Rochester (1.2% rate) vs $2,820/year in St. Cloud (1.2% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.9% in Minnesota and 6.9% in Minnesota.
Rochester median household income: $78,500/yr. St. Cloud median household income: $55,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,150 in Rochester vs $950 in St. Cloud. Annualized that is $13,800 vs $11,400.
St. Cloud offers a lower cost of living (index 88 vs 96), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Rochester typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Rochester and St. Cloud numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Rochester vs St. Cloud cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .