Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rochester?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Reno vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 11% higher in Rochester, MN. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Reno, NV

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$964

$1,080

+12% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$1,106

+8% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,243

+18% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,646

+13% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$287,500

+42% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$87,767

+12% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$60,620

+22% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

36.4 yr

+0.9 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

49.4%

65.4%

+16.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

50.1%

+14.4 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

20.6 min

17.2 min

+3.4 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

158.9

+70% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,489.3

1,379

+45% in Reno, NV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.8°F

45.4°F

+8.4°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

33.0 in

+25.6 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.95/gal

+22% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.9

+25% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$14.95

+24% in Rochester, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / MN)

6.85%

6.875%

+0.0 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Reno vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rochester?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).