Cottage Grove, MN vs St. Cloud, MN

The cost of living difference between Cottage Grove, MN and St. Cloud, MN is dramatic. St. Cloud is 46.3% cheaper than Cottage Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Cottage Grove has a cost index of 116 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 Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $1,005/month in St. Cloud — a 64% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Cloud is more affordable at $212,800 median vs $359,600.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $61,112 in St. Cloud (+98.7%). While Cottage Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 19.7% in St. Cloud.