Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 2% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$992
+41% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,192
+24% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,555
+9% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,761
+13% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$345,600
+18% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$80,269
+2% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$59,320
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
33.0 yr
+1.0 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
48.0%
+1.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
54.5%
+3.9 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
22.5 min
+4.3 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
1,167.8
+94% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,548.3
5,182.6
+46% in Minneapolis, MN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
47.4°F
+15.2°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
32.8 in
+16.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.25/gal
+1% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs Metro Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
15.1
+0% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$14.33
+22% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Minneapolis, MN
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MN)
4%
6.875%
+2.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
9.85%
+4.7 pp in MN

Atlanta vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Minneapolis?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).