Minneapolis is about 5% more expensive than Jacksonville overall - $100,000 in Jacksonville is worth about $105,366 in Minneapolis.
Housing costs separate Jacksonville and Minneapolis more than any other category. The median home in Minneapolis runs $345,600 versus $266,100 in Jacksonville, a 30% 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 $1,375/month in Jacksonville. But income matters too: the median household in Jacksonville earns $66,981 and in Minneapolis earns $80,269. That means rent swallows about 24.6% of median income in Jacksonville and 19.9% in Minneapolis.
Scale is another factor. Jacksonville is a much larger metro (961,739 people) compared to Minneapolis (426,845), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Jacksonville 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 | Jacksonville (rent) | Minneapolis (rent) | Jacksonville (own) | Minneapolis (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,375 | $1,329 | $1,545 | $2,007 |
| Transportation | $911 | $1,150 | $911 | $1,150 |
| Food | $716 | $905 | $716 | $905 |
| Healthcare | $450 | $568 | $450 | $568 |
| Other | $1,599 | $2,019 | $1,599 | $2,019 |
| Total | $5,051 | $5,971 | $5,221 | $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 $16,500 per year in rent alone - $552 more than in Jacksonville. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $105,366 in Minneapolis to match $100,000 in Jacksonville.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $34,560 in Minneapolis versus $26,610 in Jacksonville. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $462. Over five years, that’s $27,702 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Jacksonville is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Jacksonville has the purchasing power of about $126,439 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 Jacksonville earns roughly $100,472 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.
Jacksonville vs Minneapolis: the numbers
| Metric | Jacksonville | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 99 | 105 | +5% |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $1,329 | -3% |
| Median home value | $266,100 | $345,600 | +30% |
| Median household income | $66,981 | $80,269 | +20% |
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 Jacksonville has the same buying power as about $105,366 in Minneapolis. Going the other way, $100,000 in Minneapolis is like $94,908 in Jacksonville.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Jacksonville and Minneapolis.
Job market snapshot: Jacksonville 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 | Jacksonville | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $130,040 | $167,410 | +29% |
| Software Developer | $121,250 | $127,720 | +5% |
| Data Scientist | $101,190 | $114,560 | +13% |
| Financial Analyst | $78,870 | $101,470 | +29% |
| Physical Therapist | $100,930 | $97,160 | -4% |
| Registered Nurse | $79,800 | $100,800 | +26% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $93,550 | $98,740 | +6% |
Moving from Jacksonville 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. Jacksonville 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.