Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 34% higher in Seattle, WA. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,638
+65% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,858
+56% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,359
+52% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$2,918
+66% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$912,100
+164% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$121,984
+52% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$72,610
+22% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.5 yr
+2.5 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
48.0%
44.2%
+3.8 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
67.5%
+13.0 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
22.5 min
26.6 min
+4.1 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
788.6
+33% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
5,108.8
+1% 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
53.5°F
+6.1°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
37.7 in
+4.9 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$5.31/gal
+35% in Seattle, WA

Area: Minnesota vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.75
+38% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
14.9
+12% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$20.41
+37% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / WA)
6.875%
6.5%
+0.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
None
+9.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Seattle?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Seattle?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).