Question 1

Is Arlington or Minneapolis cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $112/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,709/mo in Minneapolis.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Minneapolis?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $75,000/year in Minneapolis, MN — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Minneapolis cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $7,554/month in Minneapolis, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Minneapolis?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Minneapolis costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington73	Minneapolis53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$3,999
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$7,554
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$75,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,709
Median home value	$276,400	$345,600
Median household income	$73,519	$80,269
Unemployment	4.1%	4.1%
Housing score	60	62
Jobs score	58	29
Safety score	65	11
Climate score	96	74
Amenities score	73	64
Population	394.8K	426.8K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	86° / 8°

Arlington, TX vs Minneapolis, MN