Cost of living in the St. Cloud Metro Area
2 counties across MN. Population: 200,816.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the St. Cloud Metro Area
Average rent across the St. Cloud metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the St. Cloud Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 2 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the St. Cloud Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the St. Cloud Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 2 counties in the St. Cloud Metro Area
The St. Cloud metro area includes 2 counties. Sorted by population.
- Stearns County MN$2,950/moPop159,358 Rent$883/mo Income$76,447/yrStearns County MN 159,358 $883/mo $76,447/yr $2,950/mo
- Benton County MN$3,090/moPop41,458 Rent$883/mo Income$71,480/yrBenton County MN 41,458 $883/mo $71,480/yr $3,090/mo
Compare counties in the St. Cloud Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the St. Cloud Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the St. Cloud Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the St. Cloud metro area is approximately $2,979 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 2 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the St. Cloud Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the St. Cloud metro area is $883 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the St. Cloud Metro Area?
Stearns County, MN is the most affordable county in the St. Cloud metro area at approximately $2,950 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the St. Cloud Metro Area?
Benton County, MN is the most expensive county in the St. Cloud metro area at approximately $3,090 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the St. Cloud Metro Area?
The St. Cloud metro area covers 2 counties. The five largest by population are Stearns County, Benton County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.