Mankato, MN vs St. Cloud, MN

St. Cloud is moderately more affordable than Mankato, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Mankato scores 84 compared to 79 for St. Cloud, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mankato can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mankato is $1,089/month compared to $1,005/month in St. Cloud — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Cloud is more affordable at $212,800 median vs $250,600.

Median household income in Mankato is $64,826 compared to $61,112 in St. Cloud (+6.1%). The higher salaries in Mankato partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Mankato spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.7% in St. Cloud.

Climate-wise, Mankato is notably warmer with an average of 46.7°F compared to 42.9°F in St. Cloud. Mankato receives more rainfall at 30.6" per year compared to 28.5" in St. Cloud.