Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 24% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,126
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,189
+0% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,394
+10% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,406
+20% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$232,400
+33% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$60,698
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$54,310
+8% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.1 yr
+2.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
48.0%
52.3%
+4.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
34.6%
+19.9 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
32.0 min
+9.5 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
916.8
+21% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
4,614.3
+11% 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
57.1°F
+9.7°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
48.5 in
+15.7 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
20.9
+39% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$16.67
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.92
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.90
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.02
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.68
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / PA)
6.875%
6%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
3.07%
+6.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Philadelphia?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Philadelphia?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).