Quick answer
Raleigh is 35% cheaper than Minneapolis overall. A $100K salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $135,000 in Minneapolis.
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh vs Minneapolis Cost of Living (2026)
Side-by-side cost comparison plus a salary calculator to find your equivalent pay in either city.
Overall COL difference
Raleigh is 35% cheaper
1BR rent difference
-7% (B vs A)
$100K in A = in B
$135,000
Raleigh vs Minneapolis: Side-by-Side
1BR median rent
$1,480/mo
$1,380/mo
-7%
2BR median rent
$1,860/mo
$1,750/mo
-6%
Median home price
$420K
$320K
-24%
Avg monthly groceries
$350
$360
+3%
Avg monthly utilities
$145
$155
+7%
State income tax
4.5%
Up to 9.85%
Raleigh saves
Walk score
34/100
69/100
Minneapolis better
Transit score
25/100
55/100
Minneapolis better
Salary Equivalency Calculator
How much you need to earn in Minneapolis to maintain the same standard of living as your current Raleigh salary — and vice versa.
$60,000
$81,000
$44,000
$80,000
$108,000
$59,000
$100,000
$135,000
$74,000
$120,000
$162,000
$89,000
$150,000
$203,000
$111,000
Calculated using a weighted index: rent (40%), home prices (20%), groceries (20%), utilities (10%), state income tax (10%). Individual lifestyles vary.
Monthly Budget: Raleigh vs Minneapolis
Who Each City Is Best For
Raleigh is best for
- ✓tech workers
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓researchers
- ✓young families
Minneapolis is best for
- ✓corporate professionals
- ✓healthcare workers
- ✓outdoor enthusiasts (winter sports)
- ✓arts and culture seekers
FAQs
Is Raleigh or Minneapolis cheaper to live in?
Raleigh is 35% cheaper than Minneapolis overall. Raleigh 1BR rent ($1,480/mo) vs Minneapolis ($1,380/mo). Median home price: Raleigh $420K vs Minneapolis $320K.
How much salary do I need in Minneapolis to match $100K in Raleigh?
$135,000 in Minneapolis is equivalent to $100,000 in Raleigh based on cost of living differences. The biggest factors are rent (-7% difference) and state taxes (Raleigh: 4.5% vs Minneapolis: Up to 9.85%).
What is the rent difference between Raleigh and Minneapolis?
1BR: Raleigh $1,480/mo vs Minneapolis $1,380/mo (-7%). 2BR: Raleigh $1,860/mo vs Minneapolis $1,750/mo (-6%).
Does Raleigh or Minneapolis have lower taxes?
Raleigh (NC) has 4.5% state income tax. Minneapolis (MN) has Up to 9.85% state income tax. On a $100K salary, the annual tax difference is ~$5,350.