Cost of living in Minnesota
Prices in Minnesota are 1.4% below the US average (22nd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,577 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6.875%.
Price levels in Minnesota
| BEA RPP 2024 | Minnesota | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | −1.4% |
| Goods | 100.5 | +0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 91.3 | −8.7% |
| Utilities | 90.8 | −9.2% |
| Other services | 100.2 | +0.2% |
Metros in Minnesota
Metros whose principal city is in Minnesota. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN-WI | 3,790,295 | 104.8 | $1,734 | $390 | $842 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 281,219 | 88.8 | $1,207 | $211 | $1,445 |
| Rochester, MN | 231,184 | 90.8 | $1,422 | $390 | $1,179 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 205,854 | 87.6 | $1,233 | $431 | $1,444 |
| Mankato, MN | 104,907 | 91.0 | $1,230 | $211 | $1,382 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Minnesota: Sioux Falls, SD-MN, Fargo, ND-MN, La Crosse, WI-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN.
Taxes in Minnesota (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Minnesota income tax | $1,877 | $3,577 | $6,637 | $4,652 |
| Minnesota payroll taxes | $220 | $330 | $528 | $528 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,355 | $4,807 | $7,174 | $8,333 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Minnesota’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,907 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Minnesota
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $211 | $13,412 | $143 |
| Toddler (2) | $197 | $12,522 | $132 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $182 | $11,548 | $132 |
| School-age (5–12) | $163 | $10,382 | $127 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $167 a week in Murray County to $431 in Stearns County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 87 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | $326,600 | $3,966 | 1.21% |
| Carlton County | $245,100 | $2,862 | 1.17% |
| Houston County | $239,000 | $2,756 | 1.15% |
| Hennepin County | $392,900 | $4,480 | 1.14% |
| Clay County | $265,500 | $3,013 | 1.13% |
| Benton County | $271,000 | $2,651 | 0.98% |
| Blue Earth County | $266,700 | $2,601 | 0.98% |
| Anoka County | $346,500 | $3,271 | 0.94% |
| Fillmore County | $221,100 | $2,076 | 0.94% |
| Rock County | $224,300 | $1,590 | 0.71% |
Five highest and five lowest of 27 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Minnesota
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 104,339 in, 111,575 out (net −7,236).
- Wisconsin20,316 ±3,235
- California6,928 ±2,325
- North Dakota6,171 ±1,506
- Florida5,993 ±1,643
- Iowa5,965 ±1,581
- Illinois5,140 ±1,386
- Washington4,847 ±2,453
- Texas4,579 ±1,736
- Wisconsin23,463 ±3,257
- Florida8,506 ±2,785
- North Dakota7,088 ±1,389
- Arizona6,126 ±1,268
- Texas6,098 ±2,078
- Iowa5,086 ±1,099
- Illinois4,471 ±1,583
- South Dakota3,987 ±1,253
Frequently asked questions
Is Minnesota expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Minnesota’s overall price level at 98.6 in 2024 (US = 100), the 22nd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 91.3 and goods 100.5.
Does Minnesota have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,577 in Minnesota income tax under 2026 law (4.8% of pay), plus $330 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Minnesota?+
The state rate is 6.875% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Minnesota?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Duluth, MN-WI leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,445), and Minneapolis, MN-WI the least ($842).