Minneapolis is about 2% more expensive than Fort Worth overall - $100,000 in Fort Worth is worth about $101,680 in Minneapolis.
Housing costs separate Fort Worth and Minneapolis more than any other category. The median home in Minneapolis runs $345,600 versus $277,300 in Fort Worth, a 25% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Minneapolis costs $1,329/month versus $1,412/month in Fort Worth. But income matters too: the median household in Fort Worth earns $76,602 and in Minneapolis earns $80,269. That means rent swallows about 22.1% of median income in Fort Worth and 19.9% in Minneapolis.
Scale is another factor. Fort Worth is a much larger metro (941,311 people) compared to Minneapolis (426,845), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Fort Worth 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 | Fort Worth (rent) | Minneapolis (rent) | Fort Worth (own) | Minneapolis (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,412 | $1,329 | $1,610 | $2,007 |
| Transportation | $1,079 | $1,150 | $1,079 | $1,150 |
| Food | $849 | $905 | $849 | $905 |
| Healthcare | $533 | $568 | $533 | $568 |
| Other | $1,895 | $2,019 | $1,895 | $2,019 |
| Total | $5,768 | $5,971 | $5,967 | $6,649 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Minneapolis is roughly $16,944 per year in rent alone - $996 more than in Fort Worth. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $101,680 in Minneapolis to match $100,000 in Fort Worth.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $34,560 in Minneapolis versus $27,730 in Fort Worth. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $397. Over five years, that’s $23,799 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Fort Worth is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Fort Worth has the purchasing power of about $122,016 in Minneapolis. 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 Fort Worth earns roughly $114,903 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 Minneapolis, that answer is harder.
Fort Worth vs Minneapolis: the numbers
| Metric | Fort Worth | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 103 | 105 | +2% |
| Median rent | $1,412 | $1,329 | -6% |
| Median home value | $277,300 | $345,600 | +25% |
| Median household income | $76,602 | $80,269 | +5% |
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 Fort Worth has the same buying power as about $101,680 in Minneapolis. Going the other way, $100,000 in Minneapolis is like $98,348 in Fort Worth.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Fort Worth and Minneapolis.
Job market snapshot: Fort Worth 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 | Fort Worth | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $101,866 | $167,410 | +64% |
| Software Developer | $135,735 | $127,720 | -6% |
| Data Scientist | $118,509 | $114,560 | -3% |
| Project Manager | $108,341 | $63,970 | -41% |
| Financial Analyst | $95,864 | $101,470 | +6% |
| Registered Nurse | $80,594 | $100,800 | +25% |
| Physical Therapist | $97,498 | $97,160 | -0% |
Moving from Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth 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.