Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 4% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$998
$992
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,192
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,555
+3% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,761
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$345,600
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$80,269
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$59,320
+13% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.0 yr
+2.6 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
48.0%
+13.3 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
54.5%
+12.6 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.5 min
+0.3 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
1,167.8
+62% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,487.9
5,182.6
+49% 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
49.0°F
47.4°F
+1.6°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
32.8 in
+16.3 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.25/gal
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
15.1
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$14.33
+23% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MN)
2.9%
6.875%
+4.0 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
9.85%
+5.4 pp in MN

Colorado Springs vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Minneapolis?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).