Cost of Living in Minneapolis (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Minneapolis? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, North Loop or downtownUSD 1,400–1,900 / month

One-bed apartment, Nordeast, Uptown or LongfellowUSD 1,050–1,500 / month

Metro Transit 31-day passaround USD 80–100 / month depending on fare level

Gas heating, one-bed, JanuaryUSD 90–160 / month

Groceries, one personUSD 350–470 / month — and clothing carries no sales tax at all

Good to know

Population

≈430,000 in the city; ≈3.7 million across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro

Languages

English; Spanish, Somali and Hmong are the largest other languages in the metro

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Time zone

CST (GMT-6); CDT (GMT-5) from mid-March to early November

Power plug

Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz

Climate

Humid continental — warm humid summers, a long severe winter with January lows regularly below −20°C, and a genuinely short spring

Driving side

Right

Parks

Effectively every resident lives within about a ten-minute walk of a park — the system is repeatedly ranked at or near the top of the national tables

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Minneapolis checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.