Cost of Living in Minneapolis, MN
Updated November 2026 · Hennepin County · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area · population 427,246
Prices in Minneapolis are 3.2% above the US average (local index 103.2; the BEA index for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is 104.8), with other services the biggest cost driver at 104.4; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,813 a month and the median rent is $1,371.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Minneapolis's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, unchanged.
Minneapolis price index by category, US average = 100: All items 103.2, Housing (rents) 100.5, Goods 103.1, Utilities 93.5, Other services 104.4
It is the 14th most expensive of the 20 Minnesota cities in our data. More expensive than 54% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.7 | 102.4 | 103.5 | 102.6 | 104.3 | 104.8 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Minneapolis, MN
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,111 | $13,332 | 39% |
| Utilities | $231 | $2,772 | 8% |
| Food at home | $291 | $3,492 | 10% |
| Transportation | $640 | $7,680 | 23% |
| Health care | $367 | $4,404 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $173 | $2,076 | 6% |
| Total | $2,813 | $33,756 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Minneapolis, MN
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,494 | $17,928 | 32% |
| Utilities | $370 | $4,440 | 8% |
| Food at home | $537 | $6,444 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,267 | $15,204 | 27% |
| Health care | $680 | $8,160 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $341 | $4,092 | 7% |
| Total | $4,689 | $56,268 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Minneapolis, MN
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,668 | $20,016 | 30% |
| Utilities | $450 | $5,400 | 8% |
| Food at home | $765 | $9,180 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,683 | $20,196 | 30% |
| Health care | $634 | $7,608 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $439 | $5,268 | 8% |
| Total | $5,639 | $67,668 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Minneapolis
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,045 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,214 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,632 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,822 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,071 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,371 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,255 |
| Median home value | $362,200 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,128/mo |
| Median household income | $80,846 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 29.3% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.5× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Minnesota
17.20¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +1.8% (from 16.89¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 745 kWh a month in Minnesota ≈ $121/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline
$4.02 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +39.3% (from $2.88) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey.
Inflation in the Midwest
Consumer prices in the Midwest Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Minneapolis are 3.2% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $58,100 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 103.2. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edina, MN | 7 mi | 109.6 | $3,382 | $1,844 |
| St. Paul, MN | 8 mi | 102.0 | $2,745 | $1,281 |
| Bloomington, MN | 10 mi | 105.8 | $2,984 | $1,561 |
| Minnetonka, MN | 10 mi | 108.7 | $3,305 | $1,779 |
| Plymouth, MN | 10 mi | 108.5 | $3,222 | $1,766 |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | 11 mi | 102.6 | $2,768 | $1,325 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson, NV | 103.2 | $3,078 | $1,824 |
| Irving, TX | 103.2 | $2,959 | $1,619 |
| Port Townsend, WA | 103.2 | $2,967 | $1,578 |
| Turlock, CA | 103.2 | $2,908 | $1,612 |
| Highland, CA | 103.2 | $2,906 | $1,629 |
| Sandy Springs, GA | 103.2 | $3,239 | $1,870 |
Compare Minneapolis with another city
- Minneapolis vs Chicago, IL: full comparison
- Minneapolis vs Detroit, MI: full comparison
- Minneapolis vs Edina, MN in the calculator
- Minneapolis vs St. Paul, MN in the calculator
- Minneapolis vs Bloomington, MN in the calculator
- Minneapolis vs Minnetonka, MN in the calculator
- Minneapolis vs the Minnesota average (98.6)
Frequently asked questions
Is Minneapolis, MN an expensive place to live?
Minneapolis has a local cost of living index of 103.2, which is 3.2% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area (104.8) and adjusts housing to Minneapolis's own rents. It is 4.6 points above the Minnesota average. It is the 14th most expensive of the 20 Minnesota cities in our data. More expensive than 54% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Minneapolis?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,813 for a single adult, $4,689 for a couple and $5,639 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $61,900 in Minneapolis.
What is the average rent in Minneapolis?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,371 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,214, 2 bedrooms $1,632, 3 bedrooms $1,822. The typical renter spends 29.3% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Minneapolis?
The median owner-estimated home value is $362,200, 4.5 times the median household income of $80,846 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,128 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Minneapolis?
Minnesota residential electricity averaged 17.20¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.02 a gallon (Minnesota average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 104.8) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 2743000 (Minneapolis city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Minnesota residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Minnesota, week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Midwest region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources