Minnesota
MNMidwest · 8 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Minnesota is close to the national average. Across the 8 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 101 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,475 a month, 24% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.87
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,475
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
101
vs. 100 national avg
Minnesota Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest break is rent, at 24% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 3.7% over the past year across the 8 cities we track, faster than the 2.7% national change. St. Cloud saw the biggest move (up 5.3%), while Rochester was up just 1.9%.
City to city
Where you live inside Minnesota matters. Typical rent runs from $1,224 in St. Cloud to $1,736 in Minneapolis, a gap of $512 a month or about $6,144 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 33% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 3rd lowest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $88,672 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.87 a gallon, 3% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $155 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $1,880 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the Midwest rose 1.5% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Minnesota
Minneapolis
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,736
Food ↑
+1.8%
Saint Paul
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,736
Food ↑
+1.8%
Duluth
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,329
Food ↑
+1.8%
Rochester
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,590
Food ↑
+1.8%
St. Cloud
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,224
Food ↑
+1.8%
Mankato
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,236
Food ↑
+1.8%
Brainerd
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,368
Food ↑
+1.8%
Faribault
Minnesota
Gas
$3.87
Rent
$1,579
Food ↑
+1.8%
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 87 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Carver County | $123,144 |
| 2Scott County | $120,247 |
| 3Washington County | $114,457 |
| 4Wright County | $106,666 |
| 5Dakota County | $105,212 |
| 6Sherburne County | $102,965 |
| 7Anoka County | $98,764 |
| 8Chisago County | $98,260 |
| 9Hennepin County | $96,339 |
| 10Olmsted County | $93,494 |
| 11Dodge County | $92,943 |
| 12Le Sueur County | $90,218 |
| 13Isanti County | $86,573 |
| 14Steele County | $83,448 |
| 15Rice County | $82,792 |
| 16Goodhue County | $82,749 |
| 17Ramsey County | $81,004 |
| 18Nicollet County | $80,362 |
| 19Wabasha County | $80,133 |
| 20Carlton County | $80,042 |
| 21McLeod County | $78,468 |
| 22Clay County | $77,664 |
| 23Red Lake County | $77,500 |
| 24Douglas County | $77,264 |
| 25Houston County | $77,087 |
| 26Stearns County | $76,447 |
| 27Sibley County | $76,082 |
| 28Lake County | $75,621 |
| 29Fillmore County | $75,225 |
| 30Kandiyohi County | $75,097 |
| 31Waseca County | $75,052 |
| 32Meeker County | $75,037 |
| 33Murray County | $74,475 |
| 34Roseau County | $73,611 |
| 35Grant County | $72,957 |
| 36Lyon County | $72,761 |
| 37Blue Earth County | $72,623 |
| 38Pennington County | $72,561 |
| 39Pope County | $72,205 |
| 40Kanabec County | $71,915 |
| 41Marshall County | $71,701 |
| 42Cook County | $71,643 |
| 43Lac qui Parle County | $71,639 |
| 44Yellow Medicine County | $71,573 |
| 45Mower County | $71,495 |
| 46Benton County | $71,480 |
| 47Mille Lacs County | $71,455 |
| 48Crow Wing County | $71,343 |
| 49Becker County | $71,117 |
| 50Stevens County | $71,060 |
| 51Otter Tail County | $70,912 |
| 52Rock County | $70,698 |
| 53Hubbard County | $70,622 |
| 54Watonwan County | $70,593 |
| 55Winona County | $70,198 |
| 56Lake of the Woods County | $70,091 |
| 57Jackson County | $69,955 |
| 58Norman County | $69,833 |
| 59Pine County | $69,666 |
| 60Wilkin County | $69,635 |
| 61Kittson County | $69,615 |
| 62St. Louis County | $69,455 |
| 63Chippewa County | $69,192 |
| 64Polk County | $69,136 |
| 65Koochiching County | $69,115 |
| 66Renville County | $69,086 |
| 67Freeborn County | $69,012 |
| 68Brown County | $68,690 |
| 69Morrison County | $68,640 |
| 70Cottonwood County | $68,239 |
| 71Lincoln County | $67,715 |
| 72Beltrami County | $67,257 |
| 73Redwood County | $67,024 |
| 74Itasca County | $66,380 |
| 75Pipestone County | $66,073 |
| 76Traverse County | $65,931 |
| 77Nobles County | $65,509 |
| 78Big Stone County | $65,475 |
| 79Cass County | $64,937 |
| 80Clearwater County | $64,934 |
| 81Faribault County | $64,391 |
| 82Todd County | $63,039 |
| 83Martin County | $62,969 |
| 84Swift County | $62,601 |
| 85Aitkin County | $59,498 |
| 86Wadena County | $56,882 |
| 87Mahnomen County | $53,925 |
Minnesota Cost of Living FAQ
Is Minnesota expensive to live in?
Minnesota is close to the national average. Across the 8 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 101, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Minnesota?
Typical rent in Minnesota averages $1,475 a month across the 8 cities we track as of September 2026, 24% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks near the middle of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Minnesota?
Of the 8 cities we track in Minnesota, Rochester has the lowest cost of living index at 100. The lowest typical rent is in St. Cloud, at $1,224 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Minnesota?
Minneapolis has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Minnesota, at 106. The highest typical rent is in Minneapolis, at $1,736 a month.
How much is gas in Minnesota?
Regular unleaded averages $3.87 a gallon in Minnesota as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 3% below the national average of $3.98. That is near the middle of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Minnesota?
Rent in Minnesota rose an average of 3.7% over the past year across the 8 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Minnesota?
Residential electricity in Minnesota averages 17.2 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $155.
How much is car insurance in Minnesota?
Full coverage car insurance in Minnesota averages $1,880 a year, or about $157 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is near the middle of 51 states.