Maple Grove, MN vs St. Cloud, MN

The cost of living difference between Maple Grove, MN and St. Cloud, MN is dramatic. St. Cloud is 58.6% cheaper than Maple Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Maple Grove has a cost index of 126 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 Maple Grove is $1,863/month compared to $1,005/month in St. Cloud — a 85% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Cloud is more affordable at $212,800 median vs $397,400.

Median household income in Maple Grove is $129,481 compared to $61,112 in St. Cloud (+111.9%). While Maple 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 Maple Grove spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.7% in St. Cloud.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 42.9°F). Maple Grove receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 28.5" in St. Cloud.