Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 7% 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
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$992
$997
+1% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,166
+2% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,461
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,993
+13% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$495,700
+43% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$74,925
+7% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$55,240
+7% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.0 yr
about equal
Homeownership
48.0%
46.8%
+1.2 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
50.9%
+3.6 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
19.6 min
+2.9 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
878.8
+25% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
5,257.3
+1% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+5.4°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
16.1 in
+16.7 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, 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)
16.9
13.0
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$10.26
+31% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Salt Lake City?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Salt Lake City 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).