Boston vs Minneapolis
Cost of Living (2026)

Minneapolis is 35% more affordable than Boston.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Boston, MA

COL index162
State income tax5% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$2,900/mo
Median home price$720K
VS

Minneapolis, MN

COL index106 ✓
State income tax6.8%
Avg 1BR rent$1,450/mo ✓
Median home price$355K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryBoston indexMinneapolis indexDifference
Housing214138 ✓-76%
Groceries152101 ✓-51%
Transportation151101 ✓-50%
Healthcare156103 ✓-53%
Utilities144101 ✓-43%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Boston → Minneapolis

What salary in Minneapolis gives you the same purchasing power as your Boston salary?

Salary in BostonEquivalent in MinneapolisDifference
$60,000$40,000$-20,000
$80,000$54,000$-26,000
$100,000$67,000$-33,000
$130,000$87,000$-43,000
$150,000$101,000$-49,000
$200,000$135,000$-65,000

Boston vs Minneapolis: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Boston, MA and Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 106 versus 162 for Boston — a difference of approximately 35%.

State income tax impact

Boston workers pay 5% Massachusetts state income tax, while Minneapolis workers pay 6.8%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Boston is $720,000, compared to $355,000 in Minneapolis. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,900/month in Boston versus $1,450/month in Minneapolis.

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