Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 29% higher in Minneapolis, MN. 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.

Columbus, GA
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$826
$992
+20% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$875
$1,192
+36% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,555
+57% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,761
+44% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$345,600
+90% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$80,269
+42% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$59,320
+36% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
50.2%
48.0%
+2.2 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
54.5%
+24.8 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
20.2 min
22.5 min
+2.3 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
1,168.5
+91% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
2,273.4
5,183.1
+128% 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
65.7°F
47.4°F
+18.3°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
32.8 in
+13.9 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% 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)
15.8
16.9
+7% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$14.95
+55% in Columbus, GA

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

Columbus vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Minneapolis?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Minneapolis?
Columbus 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).