State relocation profile · Federal data
Minnesota
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Minnesota from federal sources.
- 98.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,124
- 2BR rent / mo
- $79,900
- Median salary
- 53.3
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Minnesota ranks #16 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (53.3/100, D), with its strongest marks in wages and schools.
- #16 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 53.3
- Life Score · D
- 98.6
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $79,900
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: environment (14/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Minnesota ranks #16 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 98.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,124/mo, median salary $79,900; Life Score 53.3/100 (D), strongest in wages and schools.
Signature: Minnesota lists 5 MSAs; statewide figures still mask metro-to-metro swings.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 98.6 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,124/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $79,900.
Composite Life Score 53.3/100 (D) puts Minnesota in the top third (#16 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (5 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet MN · Minnesota 53.3/100 · D · #16 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-PAR · LEAD-WAGES · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-UPPER #16/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.0 pts
- RPP-PAR RPP 98.6
- LEAD-WAGES Lead · wages
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Texas (+ 0.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Minnesota
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Minnesota on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Minnesota childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Minnesota (infant $11,722/yr leads the book).
Minnesota Life Score breakdown
Minnesota composites to 53.3/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #16 of 51.
Minnesota - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Wages
Wages
78 /100
- Schools
Schools
66 /100
- Rent
Rent
60 /100
- Safety
Safety
56 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
42 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
39 /100
- Environment 14
Environment
14 /100
What this shows Minnesota's strongest dimensions are wages and schools; its weakest among scored dims is environment at 14/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Minnesota on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Minnesota on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Minnesota
Explore detailed relocation data for 5 metropolitan areas in Minnesota. Minnesota contains 5 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Duluth, Mankato, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Duluth metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Minnesota cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Minnesota wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.