Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$992
+32% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,192
+29% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,555
+28% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,761
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$345,600
+61% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$80,269
+0% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$59,320
+6% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
33.0 yr
+3.9 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
48.0%
+11.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
54.5%
+16.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.5 min
+8.6 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
1,167.8
+60% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
1,501.2
5,182.6
+245% 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
67.0°F
47.4°F
+19.6°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
32.8 in
+11.6 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.25/gal
+28% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.1
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$14.33
+31% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MN)
7.25%
6.875%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.85%
+3.5 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Minneapolis?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).