Head to head
Minneapolis, MN vs Portland, OR
Minneapolis is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $253/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $10,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Portland is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Minneapolis52 | Portland59 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,188 | $4,441 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,983 | $10,916 |
| Salary for comfort | $79,000/yr | $89,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,709 | $1,922 |
| Median home value | $345,600 | $557,600 |
| Median household income | $80,269 | $88,792 |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Housing score | 60 | 36 |
| Jobs score | 42 | 30 |
| Safety score | 11 | 53 |
| Climate score | 60 | 93 |
| Amenities score | 64 | 79 |
| Population | 426.8K | 642.7K |
| Summer high / winter low | 83° / 8° | 81° / 36° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Minneapolis, MN
Portland, OR