Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 31% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,103
+11% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,024
+14% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,213
+22% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,394
+21% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$224,500
+35% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$55,269
+31% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$54,310
+8% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.0 yr
+4.0 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
48.0%
46.0%
+2.0 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
33.1%
+21.4 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
23.0 min
+0.5 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
1,138.2
+3% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
3,182.4
+39% 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
54.9°F
+7.5°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
43.1 in
+10.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
19.4
+14% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$22.51
+51% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Wilmington, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / DE)
6.875%
None
+6.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
6.60%
+3.3 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Wilmington?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).