St. Cloud, MN vs Columbia, MO: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Columbia, MO is 2.1% more expensive than St. Cloud, MN (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in St. Cloud works out to about $76,500 in Columbia, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 1.3% lower and other services 0.9% higher in Columbia, while housing is 6.4% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,457 a month in Columbia and $1,224 in St. Cloud, $2,796 a year more in Columbia (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $319,000 in Columbia and $311,000 in St. Cloud.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.4%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between St. Cloud and Columbia
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.6 | 89.4 |
| Goods | 95.4 | 94.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 65.1 | 69.2 |
| Utilities | 88.7 | 86.0 |
| Other services | 92.2 | 93.0 |
| Category | St. Cloud | Columbia | Columbia vs St. Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.6 | 89.4 | +2.1% |
| Goods | 95.4 | 94.2 | −1.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 65.1 | 69.2 | +6.4% |
| Utilities | 88.7 | 86.0 | −3.1% |
| Other services | 92.2 | 93.0 | +0.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,224 | $1,457 | +19.0% |
| Typical home value | $311,000 | $319,000 | +2.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in St. Cloud | $75,000 | $76,500 | +2.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between St. Cloud and Columbia has narrowed since 2008: 3.8 points then, 1.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.3 | 93.5 |
| 2009 | 92.7 | 93.5 |
| 2010 | 94.8 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 93.8 | 91.9 |
| 2012 | 95.2 | 93.4 |
| 2013 | 95.3 | 92.5 |
| 2014 | 94.5 | 92.9 |
| 2015 | 93.4 | 91.5 |
| 2016 | 93.7 | 91.2 |
| 2017 | 90.7 | 91.1 |
| 2018 | 93.0 | 91.6 |
| 2019 | 94.6 | 92.4 |
| 2020 | 91.5 | 91.1 |
| 2021 | 87.5 | 89.5 |
| 2022 | 91.7 | 87.8 |
| 2023 | 89.3 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 87.6 | 89.4 |
Goods
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.3 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 96.8 | 95.9 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 96.3 |
| 2011 | 95.2 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 97.4 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 95.1 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 94.6 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 95.4 | 94.2 |
Housing (rents)
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.8 | 78.7 |
| 2009 | 70.0 | 76.2 |
| 2010 | 81.8 | 74.3 |
| 2011 | 82.2 | 73.2 |
| 2012 | 87.8 | 78.0 |
| 2013 | 84.3 | 72.3 |
| 2014 | 82.9 | 76.2 |
| 2015 | 83.0 | 73.2 |
| 2016 | 80.9 | 68.4 |
| 2017 | 70.2 | 73.9 |
| 2018 | 81.7 | 71.4 |
| 2019 | 87.5 | 75.0 |
| 2020 | 71.2 | 68.3 |
| 2021 | 58.1 | 64.5 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 64.9 |
| 2023 | 75.0 | 66.0 |
| 2024 | 65.1 | 69.2 |
Utilities
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.5 | 83.5 |
| 2009 | 89.4 | 86.8 |
| 2010 | 89.3 | 85.2 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 89.1 |
| 2012 | 89.3 | 89.9 |
| 2013 | 91.5 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 89.1 | 83.6 |
| 2015 | 86.8 | 86.6 |
| 2016 | 85.5 | 83.9 |
| 2017 | 90.1 | 89.4 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 95.6 | 93.3 |
| 2020 | 94.6 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 96.8 | 89.9 |
| 2023 | 89.4 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 88.7 | 86.0 |
Other services
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 99.6 | 98.5 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 95.4 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 98.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 94.3 | 94.3 |
| 2016 | 96.1 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 95.1 | 94.1 |
| 2018 | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 95.0 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 90.5 | 91.8 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 92.2 | 93.0 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,457 in Columbia vs $1,224 in St. Cloud
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $725 | $823 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $723 | $806 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $729 | $807 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $729 | $821 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $759 | $817 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $758 | $821 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $767 | $812 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $768 | $822 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $780 | $844 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $796 | $837 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $788 | $822 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $794 | $832 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $825 | $856 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $817 | $857 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $835 | $843 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $863 | $860 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $849 | $880 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $880 | $879 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $871 | $873 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $880 | $878 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $881 | $905 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $885 | $899 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $921 | $917 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $926 | $920 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $925 | $932 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $947 | $967 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $961 | $998 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,010 | $1,043 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,059 | $1,068 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,067 | $1,094 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,065 | $1,129 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,062 | $1,143 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,076 | $1,173 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,124 | $1,198 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,090 | $1,211 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,094 | $1,227 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,104 | $1,261 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,124 | $1,293 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,132 | $1,314 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,141 | $1,324 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,172 | $1,363 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,160 | $1,373 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,162 | $1,380 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,162 | $1,395 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,193 | $1,451 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,212 | $1,430 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,224 | $1,457 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $319,000 in Columbia vs $311,000 in St. Cloud
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- St. Cloud, MN
- Columbia, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| St. Cloud, MN | Columbia, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $160K | $168K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $163K | $169K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $166K | $171K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $167K | $172K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $168K | $173K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $174K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $174K | $176K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $177K | $179K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $179K | $183K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $183K | $186K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $185K | $187K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $186K | $187K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $188K | $188K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $190K | $189K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $194K | $190K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $196K | $191K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $198K | $193K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $201K | $196K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $203K | $198K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $205K | $202K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $209K | $204K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $212K | $206K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $217K | $212K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $223K | $221K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $229K | $227K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $241K | $239K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $250K | $248K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $254K | $253K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $264K | $265K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $276K | $279K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $275K | $281K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $273K | $280K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $275K | $279K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $278K | $286K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $282K | $289K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $284K | $288K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $287K | $291K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $289K | $295K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $291K | $299K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $296K | $303K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $299K | $308K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $301K | $308K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $304K | $310K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $307K | $313K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $310K | $315K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $310K | $317K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $311K | $319K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.