Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 30% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$992
$702
+29% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$758
+36% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$977
+37% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,177
+33% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$130,600
+62% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$55,902
+30% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$49,540
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
38.2 yr
+5.2 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
48.0%
59.2%
+11.2 pp in Topeka, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
29.1%
+25.4 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
16.7 min
+5.8 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
856.5
+27% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
3,660.2
+29% 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
55.1°F
+7.7°F in Topeka, KS
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
36.5 in
+3.6 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.85/gal
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.7
+10% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.79
$25.12
+70% in Topeka, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / KS)
6.875%
6.5%
+0.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
5.58%
+4.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Topeka?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).