Rents are 3% below what Saint Cloud's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,241 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
November. Asking rents in Saint Cloud usually run 0.9% below trend in November and 0.6% above it in June, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Saint Cloud is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in Saint Cloud changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Saint Cloud is 41.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Saint Cloud, 56301 ($1,319/mo), costs 39% more than the cheapest, 56303 ($949/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Saint Cloud. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
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How Saint Cloud, MN has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Saint Cloud, MN stood at $926 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,241, reflecting a 34.0% increase over the period. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Saint Cloud, MN reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Saint Cloud on your salary?
At $1,241/mo, how Saint Cloud rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Saint Cloud rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Saint Cloud. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Saint Cloud
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Saint Cloud is $1,241/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,273/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,003/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,690/mo.
At 21% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Saint Cloud ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,241/mo, rent takes ~21% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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