Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 11% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,242
+25% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,324
+11% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,673
+8% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,729
+2% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$375,300
+9% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$71,302
+11% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$48,940
+17% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.6 yr
+2.6 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
48.0%
50.2%
+2.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
44.6%
+9.9 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
24.7 min
+2.2 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
443.4
+62% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
1,473.2
+72% 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
73.4°F
+26.0°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
46.3 in
+13.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.25/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.9
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$23.62
+65% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Tampa, FL
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 / FL)
6.875%
6%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
None
+9.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Tampa?
Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Tampa?
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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Tampa?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).