Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Rochester?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Rochester?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 27% higher in Rochester, MN. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,080

+7% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,106

+2% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,243

+12% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,646

+2% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$287,500

+34% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$87,767

+37% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$60,620

+22% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

36.4 yr

+1.0 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

47.6%

65.4%

+17.8 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

50.1%

+5.9 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

18.6 min

17.2 min

+1.4 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

158.9

+50% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

1,379

+59% in Eugene, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

45.4°F

+7.1°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

33.0 in

+13.1 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.95/gal

+22% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

16.9

+4% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$14.95

+27% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / MN)

None

6.875%

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

9.85%

+0.1 pp in OR

Eugene vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Rochester?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Rochester?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Rochester 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).