Question 1

Is Minneapolis or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $382/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,709/mo in Minneapolis versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Minneapolis vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,000/year before tax in Minneapolis, MN and $86,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $11,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Minneapolis or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Minneapolis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,554/month in Minneapolis and $7,840/month in Philadelphia, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Minneapolis or Philadelphia?

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	Minneapolis53	Philadelphia52
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,999	$4,381
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,554	$7,840
Salary for comfort	$75,000/yr	$86,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,709	$1,810
Median home value	$345,600	$232,400
Median household income	$80,269	$60,698
Unemployment	4.1%	5.0%
Housing score	62	47
Jobs score	29	49
Safety score	11	4
Climate score	74	100
Amenities score	64	46
Population	426.8K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	86° / 8°	88° / 27°

Minneapolis, MN vs Philadelphia, PA