Burnsville, MN vs St. Cloud, MN

The cost of living difference between Burnsville, MN and St. Cloud, MN is dramatic. St. Cloud is 38.3% cheaper than Burnsville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Burnsville has a cost index of 110 while St. Cloud sits at 79, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Burnsville is $1,501/month compared to $1,005/month in St. Cloud — a 49% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Cloud is more affordable at $212,800 median vs $335,100.

Median household income in Burnsville is $83,953 compared to $61,112 in St. Cloud (+37.4%). The higher salaries in Burnsville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Burnsville spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 19.7% in St. Cloud.