Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Minneapolis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Minneapolis?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Minneapolis Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 37% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$992

+56% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,192

+52% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,555

+48% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,761

+47% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$345,600

+67% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$80,269

+37% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$59,320

+11% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

33.0 yr

+2.5 yr in Minneapolis, MN

Homeownership

33.7%

48.0%

+14.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

54.5%

+25.7 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

22.5 min

+3.6 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

1,168.5

+168% in Minneapolis, MN

Property Crime

2,657.6

5,183.1

+95% 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

51.5°F

47.4°F

+4.1°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

32.8 in

+11.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.96/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

17.5

+41% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$14.79

+52% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Minneapolis, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / MN)

6.25%

6.875%

+0.6 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

9.85%

+0.8 pp in MN

Cambridge vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Minneapolis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Minneapolis?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).