Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Portland?

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Portland?

Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Minneapolis vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 10% higher in Portland, OR. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,294

+30% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,192

$1,440

+21% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,741

+12% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,761

$2,053

+17% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$345,600

$557,600

+61% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$80,269

$88,792

+11% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,320

$60,690

+2% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

38.6 yr

+5.6 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

48.0%

52.8%

+4.8 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.5%

53.5%

+1.0 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Avg Commute

22.5 min

24.6 min

+2.1 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,168.5

732.3

+37% in Minneapolis, MN

Property Crime

5,183.1

5,609.4

+8% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+7.1°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

32.8 in

42.9 in

+10.0 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: Minnesota vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.80

+40% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.9

16.3

+4% in Minneapolis, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.95

$20.59

+38% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Minneapolis, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Minneapolis, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / OR)

6.875%

None

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

9.90%

+0.1 pp in OR

Minneapolis vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Portland?: Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Portland?: Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).