Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 47% higher in Naperville, IL. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,713
+73% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,594
+34% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,889
+21% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$2,446
+39% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$509,900
+48% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$150,937
+88% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$54,720
+8% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
40.1 yr
+7.1 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
48.0%
74.3%
+26.3 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
71.7%
+17.2 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
22.5 min
31.4 min
+8.9 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
85.7
+93% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
892.2
+83% 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
47.4°F
49.9°F
+2.5°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
36.9 in
+4.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
23.9
+41% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$15.39
+3% in Naperville, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / IL)
6.875%
6.25%
+0.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.95%
+4.9 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Naperville?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Naperville?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).