Living Cost Compare
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 15% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,949
$992
+49% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,853
$1,192
+36% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,555
+16% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$2,004
$1,761
+12% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$534,500
$345,600
+35% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$94,813
$80,269
+15% in Jersey City, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$59,320
+3% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
33.0 yr
+1.7 yr in Jersey City, NJ
Homeownership
28.8%
48.0%
+19.2 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.1%
54.5%
+1.4 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
36.9 min
22.5 min
+14.4 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
562.9
1,168.5
+108% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
2,036.4
5,183.1
+155% 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
55.0°F
47.4°F
+7.6°F in Jersey City, NJ
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
32.8 in
+17.1 in in Jersey City, NJ

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)
24.9
17.5
+30% in Jersey City, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$14.79
+16% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Jersey City, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Jersey City, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Jersey City, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MN)
6.625%
6.875%
+0.3 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
9.85%
+0.9 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Minneapolis?
Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).