Cost of Living: Chicago vs Minneapolis
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Chicago compared to Minneapolis?
In Chicago, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $84K in Minneapolis. That means Minneapolis offers 19% more spending power. Your money goes further in Minneapolis.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Minneapolis
$84K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $84K in Minneapolis vs $100K in Chicago
Chicago
73.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Minneapolis
61.4
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Minneapolis is 16% cheaper than Chicago
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Chicago and Minneapolis, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Chicago median | Minneapolis median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $139K | $126K | Minneapolis wins by 8% |
| Data Scientists | $134K | $136K | Minneapolis wins by 21% |
| Cloud Architect | $88K | $90K | Minneapolis wins by 22% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $135K | $110K | Chicago wins by 3% |
| Management Analysts | $165K | $113K | Chicago wins by 18% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.84x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Chicago vs Minneapolis?
A: Chicago is approximately 19% more expensive than Minneapolis, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Minneapolis is equivalent to about $119K in Chicago. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Chicago to match $100,000 in Minneapolis?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Minneapolis, you would need approximately $119K in Chicago. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Chicago and Minneapolis?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Minneapolis wins by 8% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
Related comparisons
Chicago vs cities with a cost of living similar to Minneapolis
Minneapolis vs cities with a cost of living similar to Chicago