Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 27% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$707
$992
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,192
+46% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,555
+57% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,761
+41% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$345,600
+101% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$80,269
+37% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$59,320
+50% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
33.0 yr
+1.1 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
48.0%
+12.2 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
54.5%
+27.0 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
23.7 min
22.5 min
+1.2 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
1,167.8
+265% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
1,509.3
5,182.6
+243% 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
64.6°F
47.4°F
+17.2°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
32.8 in
+23.1 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.25/gal
+7% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Texas vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
$2.00
+33% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.1
+8% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$14.33
+42% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in El Paso, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Minneapolis, MN
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MN)
6.25%
6.875%
+0.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.85%
+9.8 pp in MN

El Paso vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Minneapolis?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Minneapolis?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).