Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 19% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$992
$820
+17% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$863
+28% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,056
+32% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,377
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$239,300
+31% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$65,060
+19% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$47,230
+20% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
31.6 yr
+1.4 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
48.0%
52.7%
+4.7 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
46.2%
+8.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
22.2 min
+0.3 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
268.6
+77% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
2,294.1
+56% 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
61.5°F
+14.1°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
36.5 in
+3.7 in in Norman, OK

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
13.4
+21% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$27.15
+82% in Norman, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Norman, OK
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / OK)
6.875%
4.5%
+2.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.50%
+5.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Norman?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).