C
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Minneapolis Minnesota National
Cost of living11099100
Goods & Services96100100
Groceries102101100
Health care91102100
Housing141100100
Transportation9696100
Utilities9595100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Minneapolis, MN

The cost of living in Minneapolis affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Minneapolis is 110, which is 10% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Minneapolis aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Minneapolis residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Minneapolis cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 40.6% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Minneapolis?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 51 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Minneapolis. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 35% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 65% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Minneapolis Affordable?

Is Minneapolis affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Minneapolis, the median home price is 51.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 14.5% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Minneapolis boasting a median household income of $99,202, 22% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Minneapolis?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Minneapolis, the groceries index registers 1.6% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Minneapolis, the transportation index is 3.8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Minneapolis cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Minneapolis is 11% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Minneapolis is 10% higher than the national average
  • Minneapolis housing is 41% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 106% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Minneapolis

See all the best places to live around Minneapolis

Compare Minneapolis, MN Cost of Living

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      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$151,914$12,660$3,544$4,558
      Renters$65,792$5,483$1,535$1,974
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Minneapolis, MN, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Minneapolis, the median monthly income is $151,914 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $3,544 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $65,792, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,535 on monthly rental expenses.

      Minnesota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Minnesota 6.875% 7.875%

      Minnesota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Minnesota 5.35% 9.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.45$27.626.6%
      Beauty Salon $41.84$51.1118.1%
      Toothpaste $4.03$4.091.5%
      Shampoo $1.96$1.5427.1%
      Movie $12.04$12.886.5%
      Yoga $25.72$19.6630.8%

      Groceries

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.57$7.701.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.64$4.732.0%
      Potatoes $5.00$5.264.9%
      Pizza $13.48$12.765.6%
      Beer $9.61$10.558.9%

      Health Care

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $124.11$140.0611.4%
      Doctor $175.71$153.8214.2%
      Dentist $95.56$123.1522.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.80$11.730.6%
      Lipitor $18.84$23.6120.2%

      Housing

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $495,804.00$326,622.0051.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,910.71$2,480.2523.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,654.00$1,444.0014.5%

      Transportation

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.94$3.063.7%
      Tire Balancing $62.72$65.213.8%

      Utilities

      Item Minneapolis National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $205.04$220.126.8%
      Phone $194.30$195.710.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Landfall, MN8197128.9%
      South End, MN667623.7%
      Hilltop, MN1,0457822.5%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1088119.2%
      St. Paul Park, MN5,5621010.6%
      Minneapolis, MN439,8801109.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Laval, QC445,050n/a 
      Oakland, CA431,36618786.7%
      Halifax, NS451,852n/a 
      London, ON421,456n/a 
      Virginia Beach, VA463,34111514.8%
      Minneapolis, MN439,8801109.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.