Is Rochester expensive to live in?

Rochester is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,106 per month ranks #53 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Rochester?

Average rent in Rochester, MN runs a studio around $1,080, a one-bedroom around $1,106, a two-bedroom around $1,243, a three-bedroom around $1,646 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Rochester?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,106 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year. The median household income here is $87,767.

How much does it cost to live in Rochester per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Rochester is about $1,280 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Rochester, MN

Population 121,638 · Minnesota

~$1,280/mo est.1BR $1,106Home $287,500

Photo: Cody Otto / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Rochester, MN is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,106 a month — about the same as the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,080 and two-bedrooms $1,243.

Median household income here is $87,767, 26% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,280 before food and transport. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,106

Studio

$1,080

1 Bedroom

$1,106

2 Bedroom

$1,243

3 Bedroom

$1,646

Buying a Home$287,500

Median Home Value

$287,500

Income$87,767

Median Household Income

$87,767

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,620

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.9¢/kWh

Electricity

16.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$14.95/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.95/gal

Regular Gasoline (Minnesota)

$3.95/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MN)6.875% sales

State Sales Tax

6.88%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 9.85%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime158.9 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

158.9

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,379

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Rochester Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.4 yrs

Median Age

36.4 yrs

Homeownership

65.4%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

50.1%

Avg Commute

17.2 min

Climate45.4°F

Avg Annual Temperature

45.4°F

Annual Precipitation

33.0 in

Rochester cost of living — FAQ

Is Rochester expensive to live in?: Rochester is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,106 per month ranks #53 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Rochester?: Average rent in Rochester, MN runs a studio around $1,080, a one-bedroom around $1,106, a two-bedroom around $1,243, a three-bedroom around $1,646 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Rochester?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,106 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year. The median household income here is $87,767.
How much does it cost to live in Rochester per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Rochester is about $1,280 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Rochester with nearby cities

Rochester vs St. Paul Rochester vs Minneapolis Rochester vs Madison Rochester vs Des Moines Rochester vs Sioux Falls Rochester vs Green Bay

Nearby cities

St. Paul, MN 72 mi Minneapolis, MN 77 mi Madison, WI 167 mi Des Moines, IA 177 mi Sioux Falls, SD 214 mi Green Bay, WI 224 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.