Cost of living
in Minneapolis

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$2,892

Average cost per month

1

Distribution of expenses

  • Housing

    42%
  • Healthcare

    13%
  • Groceries

    16%
  • Utilities

    9%
  • Transit

    2%
  • Other

    18%

Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.

Minneapolis

What makes Minneapolis special?

Minneapolis grew up around St. Anthony Falls, the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi River, and its flour mills once led the world. Thirteen lakes and a connected park system shape daily life, and in the cold winters 9.5 miles of enclosed skyways connect 80 downtown blocks. On Lake Street, Mercado Central has been a Latino marketplace since 1999.

Monthly costs in Minneapolis

What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.

1

A full-time minimum-wage job in Minneapolis pays about $2,837 a month, $55 short of these costs.

Total
Minneapolis
$2,892

Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.

Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.

Life in Minneapolis

A few things that make Minneapolis more than a number.

Minneapolis

A city built around lakes — there's water everywhere.

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Compare Minneapolis with…

Side-by-side monthly costs for Minneapolis and each city in the tool.

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Cost of living in other US cities

Monthly costs for one person, city by city.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Minneapolis?

About $2,892 a month for one adult, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment ($1,209). That covers housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending.

How much does a couple need to live in Minneapolis?

About $4,233 a month for two adults sharing a one-bedroom apartment. Rent and home internet are shared, so two people pay less than double.

What is the typical rent in Minneapolis?

A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,209 a month, a two-bedroom for about $1,368 and a three-bedroom for about $1,894. These are rents only; utilities are counted separately.

How much are groceries and utilities in Minneapolis?

For one adult, groceries run about $455 a month and utilities about $273, including home internet.

How much does transportation cost in Minneapolis?

About $65 a month for one adult.

Can you live on minimum wage in Minneapolis?

A full-time minimum-wage job in Minneapolis ($16.37 an hour) pays about $2,837 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $2,892 a month. Add your own income on this page to see what would be left.

Is Minneapolis expensive compared with other U.S. cities?

Of the 15 U.S. cities in this tool, Minneapolis is number 14 by monthly cost for one adult (1 is the most expensive).

How is the cost of living measured?

We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Figures were last updated in 2026.