Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Seattle?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Seattle?

Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Rochester vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 28% higher in Seattle, WA. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,080

$1,638

+52% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,106

$1,858

+68% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,243

$2,359

+90% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,646

$2,918

+77% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$287,500

$912,100

+217% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$87,767

$121,984

+39% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,620

$72,610

+20% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

35.5 yr

+0.9 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

65.4%

44.2%

+21.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

50.1%

67.5%

+17.4 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

17.2 min

26.6 min

+9.4 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

158.9

788.6

+396% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

1,379

5,108.8

+270% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+8.1°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

33.0 in

37.7 in

+4.7 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$5.31/gal

+35% in Seattle, WA

Area: Minnesota vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.9

14.9

+12% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.95

$20.41

+37% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MN / WA)

6.875%

6.5%

+0.4 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

None

+9.8 pp in MN

Rochester vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Seattle?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Seattle?: Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax 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).