Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 31% higher in Minneapolis, MN. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$802
$992
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,192
+16% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,555
+34% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,761
+32% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$345,600
+42% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$80,269
+44% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$59,320
+28% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
33.0 yr
+4.3 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
47.3%
48.0%
+0.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
54.5%
+8.4 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
17.4 min
22.5 min
+5.1 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
1,168.5
+52% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,265.1
5,183.1
+59% 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
64.9°F
47.4°F
+17.5°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
32.8 in
+12.6 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.96/gal
+0% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
17.5
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$14.79
+49% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Columbia, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Minneapolis, 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 (SC / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
9.85%
+3.8 pp in MN

Columbia vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Minneapolis?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Minneapolis?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).