

Ames vs Minneapolis
$347/mo more in Minneapolis
AmesMinneapolisAbout 212 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Minneapolis leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,748/mo in Minneapolis. $2,401/mo in Ames. +$4,164 a year.
Ames
$2,401
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,748
+$347 vs Ames
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 77 households moved Ames → Minneapolis (avg AGI $54,403). The whole move →
+$347 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ames | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,208 | $8,257 | +$2,049 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,332 | $2,189 | +$857 |
| Take-home pay | $4,877 | $6,068 | +$1,191 |
| Rent | $760 | $1,366 | +$606 |
| Getting around | $457 | $504 | +$47 |
| Groceries | $347 | $400 | +$53 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $450 | +$59 |
| Utilities | $217 | $250 | +$33 |
| Everything else | $304 | $350 | +$46 |
| Left over | $2,401 | $2,748 | +$347 |
Salary to match Ames
$92,500
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $74,500 in Ames.
Tax difference
−$2,998
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 21.4% in Ames, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
Ames, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $905 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Ames →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Ames?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $347 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $760 in Ames and $1,366 in Minneapolis.
Does Minneapolis have state income tax?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Ames to Minneapolis?
The paycheck is taxed in Minnesota. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Ames and Minneapolis changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.