

Houston vs Minneapolis
$403/mo less in Minneapolis
HoustonMinneapolisAbout 1,063 miles apart, a flight.
- Minneapolis costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,757/mo in Minneapolis. $3,160/mo in Houston. −$4,836 a year.
Houston
$3,160
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,757
−$403 vs Houston
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 231 households moved Houston → Minneapolis (avg AGI $89,247). 381 went the other way. The whole move →
−$403 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Houston | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,958 | $8,270 | +$312 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,661 | $2,194 | +$533 |
| Take-home pay | $6,298 | $6,077 | −$221 |
| Rent | $1,188 | $1,366 | +$178 |
| Getting around | $572 | $504 | −$68 |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | +$20 |
| Healthcare | $428 | $450 | +$22 |
| Utilities | $238 | $250 | +$12 |
| Everything else | $333 | $350 | +$17 |
| Left over | $3,160 | $2,757 | −$403 |
Salary to match Houston
$107,000
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $95,500 in Houston.
Tax difference
−$5,285
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 20.9% in Houston, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
Houston, TX in full
The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Houston →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Houston?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $403 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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.