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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Minneapolis rent up 4% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Minneapolis has increased from $1,569 to $1,638/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | 96 | $1,638 | Details |
| 2 | St Paul | 87 | $1,485 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Minneapolis — cost index 96, rent $1,638/mo, income $80,269
Minneapolis rent up 4% over the past year
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Minneapolis rent up 4% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Minneapolis has increased from $1,569 to $1,638/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities in Minnesota beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Minneapolis stands out at 96 on the index, with rent of $1,638/month and household income of $80,269. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
Here's Minneapolis by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 96. Rent: $1,638/month. Income: $80,269/year. Home price: $327,043. Population: 425,115. The strongest category is Housing at 96; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,084 per year vs. the national median. This is one of those rare cities where the math works from every angle.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers (that's pre-tax, of course).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Minneapolis | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $53,510 |
2St Paul | 9.85% | 7.545% | 1.02% | $53,510 |
425,115 residents · Minnesota
In plain English: Here's Minneapolis by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 96. Rent: $1,638/month — we had to double-check this one — . Income: $80,269/year. Home price: $327,043. Population: 425,115. The strongest category is Housing at 96; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,084 per year vs. the national median. That's a strong position by any measure.
303,820 residents · Minnesota
St Paul earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 87 cost index sits 24 points below the national baseline, and the $73,055 — worth pausing on — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $289,137 — $178,233 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 87, while Healthcare trails at 97.
Minneapolis ranks #1 in Minnesota for this analysis with a cost index of 96 and median income of $80,269.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Minneapolis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,638/mo, while St Paul (ranked #2) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,485/mo — a 9-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Minneapolis is $1,638/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $257 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Minneapolis is $327,043, which is 4.1× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Minnesota has a 9.85% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.545%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.02%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.