Question 1

Is Denver or Minneapolis cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $311/month less than in Denver, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,089/mo in Denver versus $1,709/mo in Minneapolis.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Denver vs Minneapolis?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $84,500/year before tax in Denver, CO and $79,000/year in Minneapolis, MN — a difference of about $5,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Denver or Minneapolis cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $11,167/month in Denver and $10,983/month in Minneapolis, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Denver 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	Denver54	Minneapolis52
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,499	$4,188
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$11,167	$10,983
Salary for comfort	$84,500/yr	$79,000/yr
Typical rent	$2,089	$1,709
Median home value	$586,700	$345,600
Median household income	$91,681	$80,269
Unemployment	4.1%	4.2%
Housing score	30	60
Jobs score	44	42
Safety score	35	11
Climate score	74	60
Amenities score	64	64
Population	713.7K	426.8K
Summer high / winter low	88° / 17°	83° / 8°

Denver, CO vs Minneapolis, MN