Living Cost Compare
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 17% higher in Washington, DC. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,080
$1,763
+63% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,106
$1,885
+70% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,243
$1,949
+57% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,646
$2,249
+37% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$287,500
$724,600
+152% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$87,767
$106,287
+21% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,620
$71,060
+17% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.9 yr
+1.5 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.4%
41.1%
+24.3 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.1%
63.6%
+13.5 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
17.2 min
30.3 min
+13.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
158.9
936.3
+489% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,379
3,627.9
+163% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+12.8°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
33.0 in
39.7 in
+6.7 in in Washington, DC

Gas

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

Area: Minnesota vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
25.4
+50% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$22.01
+47% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Rochester, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Washington, DC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Rochester, MN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Rochester, 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 / DC)
6.875%
6%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
10.75%
+0.9 pp in DC

Rochester vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Washington?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Washington?
Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).