Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 19% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$992
+2% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,192
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,555
+22% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,761
+29% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$345,600
+47% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$80,269
+23% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$59,320
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.0 yr
about equal
Homeownership
44.3%
48.0%
+3.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
54.5%
+16.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
21.8 min
22.5 min
+0.7 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
1,167.8
+141% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,092.7
5,182.6
+68% 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
52.7°F
47.4°F
+5.3°F in Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
32.8 in
+7.3 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$4.25/gal
+7% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
15.1
+20% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$14.33
+4% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.79
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.97
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.15
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.63
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MN)
5.75%
6.875%
+1.1 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
9.85%
+7.1 pp in MN

Columbus vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Minneapolis?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, 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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Minneapolis?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).