Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 32% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$992
$795
+20% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$891
+25% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,146
+26% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,520
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$242,200
+30% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$54,546
+32% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$47,760
+19% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.6 yr
+1.6 yr in Tucson, AZ
Homeownership
48.0%
51.7%
+3.7 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
30.2%
+24.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
22.2 min
+0.3 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,167.8
645.8
+45% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,182.6
3,460
+33% 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
70.2°F
+22.8°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
11.6 in
+21.2 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$5.57/gal
+31% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Minnesota vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.6
+3% in Tucson, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.33
$19.69
+37% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Tucson, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Tucson, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Tucson, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / AZ)
6.875%
5.6%
+1.3 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
2.50%
+7.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Tucson?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).