Denver vs Minneapolis
Cost of Living (2026)

Minneapolis is 10% more affordable than Denver.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Denver, CO

COL index118
State income tax4.55% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo
Median home price$545K
VS

Minneapolis, MN

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexMinneapolis indexDifference
Housing154138 ✓-16%
Groceries112101 ✓-11%
Transportation112101 ✓-11%
Healthcare114103 ✓-11%
Utilities110101 ✓-9%

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

Salary equivalency: Denver → Minneapolis

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

Salary in DenverEquivalent in MinneapolisDifference
$60,000$56,000$-4,000
$80,000$74,000$-6,000
$100,000$93,000$-7,000
$130,000$121,000$-9,000
$150,000$140,000$-10,000
$200,000$186,000$-14,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 106 versus 118 for Denver — a difference of approximately 10%.

State income tax impact

Denver workers pay 4.55% Colorado state income tax, while Minneapolis workers pay 6.8%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $355,000 in Minneapolis. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $1,450/month in Minneapolis.

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