Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 11% higher in Rochester, MN. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,080
+24% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,106
+20% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,243
+17% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,646
+1% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$287,500
+18% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$87,767
+12% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$60,620
+21% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
36.4 yr
+2.0 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
51.5%
65.4%
+13.9 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
50.1%
+2.7 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
25.0 min
17.2 min
+7.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
158.9
+78% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,379
+63% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
45.4°F
+14.5°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
33.0 in
+8.6 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
16.9
+12% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$14.95
+46% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rochester, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charlotte, NC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Rochester, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / MN)
4.75%
6.875%
+2.1 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
9.85%
+5.9 pp in MN

Charlotte vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Rochester?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Rochester 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).