Best places to live in Minnesota
CityLedger tracks 4 Minnesota metros, led by Rochester. Cost of living runs from about 88 to 105 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 4 metros in Minnesota, the largest being the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area (around 3,757,952 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $69,309 in Duluth to $97,928 in Minneapolis, and typical rent from $993 a month in Duluth upward — a reminder that "Minnesota" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
St. Cloud has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 88 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Rochester delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $99,739.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Minnesota levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 8.1% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Minnesota state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Rochester earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 88/100; Rochester is the fastest-growing, up 4% over the latest population estimate; Duluth carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $10 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 88 | 91 | $90,584 | $1,378/mo |
| Minneapolis, MN | 74 | 105 | $97,928 | $1,444/mo |
| St. Cloud, MN | 56 | 88 | $75,688 | $1,039/mo |
| Duluth, MN | 50 | 89 | $69,309 | $993/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Minnesota — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Minnesota?
- By overall price level, St. Cloud is the most affordable metro in Minnesota, at about 88 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Minnesota?
- Rochester has the highest cost-adjusted income in Minnesota — a median of about $99,739 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Minnesota have a state income tax?
- Yes. Minnesota levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 8.1%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Minnesota metro has the highest livability score?
- Rochester, at 88/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.