Denver is about 1% less expensive than Minneapolis overall - $100,000 in Minneapolis is worth about $99,092 in Denver.
Housing costs separate Denver and Minneapolis more than any other category. The median home in Denver runs $586,700 versus $345,600 in Minneapolis, a 41% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Denver costs $1,770/month versus $1,329/month in Minneapolis. But income matters too: the median household in Denver earns $91,681 and in Minneapolis earns $80,269. That means rent swallows about 23.2% of median income in Denver and 19.9% in Minneapolis.
Both cities are similarly sized metros - Denver has 713,734 people and Minneapolis has 426,845. That means comparable access to jobs, airports, and cultural amenities without the extremes of a mega-city.
Monthly cost breakdown: Denver vs Minneapolis
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Denver (rent) | Minneapolis (rent) | Denver (own) | Minneapolis (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,770 | $1,329 | $3,407 | $2,007 |
| Transportation | $1,325 | $1,150 | $1,325 | $1,150 |
| Food | $1,043 | $905 | $1,043 | $905 |
| Healthcare | $655 | $568 | $655 | $568 |
| Other | $2,328 | $2,019 | $2,328 | $2,019 |
| Total | $7,120 | $5,971 | $8,757 | $6,649 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Denver is roughly $21,240 per year in rent alone - $5,292 more than in Minneapolis. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $99,092 in Denver to match $100,000 in Minneapolis.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $58,670 in Denver versus $34,560 in Minneapolis. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $1,400. Over five years, that’s $84,011 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Minneapolis is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Minneapolis has the purchasing power of about $121,099 in Denver. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Denver earns roughly $137,522 and in Minneapolis earns $120,404. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Denver, that answer is harder.
Denver vs Minneapolis: the numbers
| Metric | Denver | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 106 | 105 | -1% |
| Median rent | $1,770 | $1,329 | -25% |
| Median home value | $586,700 | $345,600 | -41% |
| Median household income | $91,681 | $80,269 | -12% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same buying power as about $99,092 in Minneapolis. Going the other way, $100,000 in Minneapolis is like $100,916 in Denver.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Denver and Minneapolis.
Job market snapshot: Denver vs Minneapolis
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Denver | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $170,110 | $167,410 | -2% |
| Software Developer | $134,990 | $127,720 | -5% |
| Data Scientist | $111,750 | $114,560 | +3% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,390 | $98,740 | -5% |
| Financial Analyst | $99,060 | $101,470 | +2% |
| Registered Nurse | $87,330 | $100,800 | +15% |
| Police Officer | $100,790 | $91,000 | -10% |
Moving from Denver to Minneapolis: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Denver and Minneapolis are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Minneapolis.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.