Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 3% higher in Raleigh, NC. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,301
+31% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,323
+11% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,462
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,715
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$377,800
+9% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$82,424
+3% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$51,990
+12% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.7 yr
+1.7 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
48.0%
51.2%
+3.2 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
52.9%
+1.6 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
23.4 min
+0.9 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
491.5
+58% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
2,838
+45% 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
60.6°F
+13.2°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
46.0 in
+13.2 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Raleigh, NC

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
16.0
+6% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$17.50
+22% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Minneapolis, MN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / NC)
6.875%
4.75%
+2.1 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
3.99%
+5.9 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Raleigh?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Raleigh?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).