Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 22% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,052
+6% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,084
+9% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,327
+15% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,545
+12% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$219,700
+36% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$62,917
+22% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$47,010
+21% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.6 yr
+1.6 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
48.0%
52.4%
+4.4 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
28.7%
+25.8 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
24.6 min
+2.1 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
605
+48% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
4,665
+10% 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
68.5°F
+21.1°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
34.9 in
+2.0 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.96/gal
+7% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.30
+35% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
16.4
+9% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$24.61
+72% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in San Antonio, TX
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 / TX)
6.875%
6.25%
+0.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
None
+9.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or San Antonio?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).