Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 22% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Provo, UT

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,009
+2% in Provo, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$978
+18% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,128
+27% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,381
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$437,100
+26% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$62,800
+22% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$48,010
+19% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
23.7 yr
+9.3 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
48.0%
39.9%
+8.1 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
45.0%
+9.5 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
18.5 min
+4.0 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
205.7
+82% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
1,280.6
+75% 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
53.4°F
+6.0°F in Provo, UT
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
19.8 in
+13.1 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Provo, UT

Area: Minnesota vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
13.4
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.79
$11.84
+20% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / UT)
6.875%
6.1%
+0.8 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.50%
+5.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Provo?
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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Provo?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).