Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 31% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$992
$953
+4% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,019
+15% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,287
+17% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,392
+21% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$296,400
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$55,339
+31% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$47,290
+20% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
38.4 yr
+5.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
48.0%
50.5%
+2.5 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
42.0%
+12.5 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
22.7 min
+0.2 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
1,361.1
+17% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,182.6
5,089.6
+2% 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
70.6°F
+23.2°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
62.3 in
+29.5 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.99/gal
+6% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.2
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$16.62
+16% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Minneapolis, MN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / LA)
6.875%
5%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
3.00%
+6.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or New Orleans?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).