Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 40% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,111
+12% in Newark, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$978
+18% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,386
+11% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,695
+4% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$337,800
+2% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$48,416
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$61,430
+4% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.8 yr
+1.8 yr in Newark, NJ
Homeownership
48.0%
24.1%
+23.9 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
17.4%
+37.1 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
33.2 min
+10.7 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
582.5
+50% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
1,961.8
+62% 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
54.9°F
+7.5°F in Newark, NJ
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
46.3 in
+13.4 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
23.3
+37% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$15.93
+7% in Newark, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Newark, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Newark, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Newark, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

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

Minneapolis vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Newark?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Newark?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).