Living Cost Compare
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,280 in Rochester, MN versus $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 15% higher in Rochester, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,080
$997
+8% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,106
$1,166
+5% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,243
$1,461
+18% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,646
$1,993
+21% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$287,500
$495,700
+72% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$87,767
$74,925
+15% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,620
$55,240
+9% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.0 yr
+3.4 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.4%
46.8%
+18.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.1%
50.9%
+0.8 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
17.2 min
19.6 min
+2.4 min in Salt Lake City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
158.9
878.8
+453% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
1,379
5,257.3
+281% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
45.4°F
52.8°F
+7.4°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
33.0 in
16.1 in
+16.9 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Minnesota vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
13.0
+24% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$10.26
+31% in Rochester, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / UT)
6.875%
6.1%
+0.8 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.50%
+5.3 pp in MN

Rochester vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Salt Lake City?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Salt Lake City?
Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).