St. Cloud, MN vs Winona, MN

Winona is moderately more affordable than St. Cloud, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. St. Cloud scores 79 compared to 75 for Winona, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Cloud can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in St. Cloud is $1,005/month compared to $839/month in Winona — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Winona is more affordable at $193,500 median vs $212,800.

Median household income in St. Cloud is $61,112 compared to $56,163 in Winona (+8.8%). While St. Cloud is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Cloud spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, more than the 17.9% in Winona.

Climate-wise, Winona is notably warmer with an average of 48.8°F compared to 42.9°F in St. Cloud. Winona receives more rainfall at 35.2" per year compared to 28.5" in St. Cloud.