Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, beckons with vibrant cities, stunning natural beauty, and a friendly atmosphere. But is it the right place for you? Whether you're a nature enthusiast seeking winter wonderlands or a career-minded individual looking for a stable economy, this guide will explore the pros and cons of moving to Minnesota, helping you decide if this charming state offers the perfect fit for your lifestyle.
Minneapolis is divided into east and west, defined by the Mississippi River, with Central in the city’s heart, just west of the Mississippi. Southwest and South are (rather intuitively) below Central and west of the Mississippi, North and Northeast are above Central, and Southeast is (rather non-intuitively) located directly east of Central. Northeast and Southeast are the only two communities east of the Mississippi. These six general areas break down into eleven distinctive communities, and each community further breaks down into smaller neighborhoods.
Let's explore how much it costs to live in Minneapolis, the neighborhoods you can explore, transportation, and more.
The following rent averages come from current listings on our website. Rent prices listed are averages and may not reflect the cost of specific units. Rental prices can vary depending on factors like size, location, amenities, and availability.
On average, expect to pay around $1,355 per month for a studio apartment in Minneapolis.
The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Minneapolis is approximately $1,744 per month.
In Minneapolis, a 2-bedroom apartment typically rents for around $2,554 per month.
A 3-bedroom apartment in Minneapolis will cost, on average, $3,555 per month.
One of the appeals of the City of Lakes is that it has many green options for your commute, including a system of light metro rail trains as well as commuter trains that stretch to the suburbs. Bike Magazine also rated Minneapolis the # 1 Bike-Friendly City in 2010, so if you can’t leave home without your ten-speed, you’ll love this area when it’s not too cold. If you do decide to keep your car and live in the downtown area make sure you factor in the cost of a parking garage for your apartment or an assigned parking spot. Parking can add up to $100 to your monthly rent.
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Metro Transit: The Twin Cities boast a robust public transportation system operated by Metro Transit [invalid URL removed]. Their extensive network of buses and light rail lines (Blue Line and Green Line) can whisk you to most destinations within Minneapolis and even reach St. Paul. Fares are affordable, ranging from $2 to $3.25 depending on time of day, with a special 50-cent fare for rides within the designated downtown zones.
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Planning Your Ride: Metro Transit's website and app [invalid URL removed] are great resources for trip planning, real-time bus/train arrivals, and fare information.
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Bike-Friendly City: Minneapolis is known for its bike paths and trails, making it a great city to explore on two wheels. For short trips, consider using a bike sharing service offered by companies like Nice Ride Minnesota.
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Walkability: The downtown core and many neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly with sidewalks and crosswalks. The Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian-only street lined with shops and restaurants, is a popular spot for strolling.
If you are moving with a pet to Minneapolis, you're in luck! Minneapolis offers a surprising number of pet-friendly options. Here are some resources. Furthermore, major rental listing websites like Apartment List allow filtering by pet-friendliness. Simply select “Dog-Friendly” or “Cat-Friendly” in your preferences when you start your search.
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Weight & breed restrictions: While dogs are popular even in the busiest parts of the city, be aware that many buildings (especially high-rises) have weight or breed limits for pets, often stricter than other locations.
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Building size and amenities: Larger buildings and those with dedicated pet amenities like dog runs are more likely to be pet-friendly.
Still have questions about the City of Lakes? Here are some of the most common things people ask when moving to Minneapolis:
At an average of $1,744 per month for a one-bedroom, you would probably want to earn around $75,000 a year to comfortably afford a one bedroom, which is higher than the average salary in Minnesota of $63,640.
As of March 2024, rents are currently up in Minneapolis year over year by 1.4% and up month over month by the same percent.
Minnesota boasts a stable economy with a low unemployment rate. The Twin Cities are hubs for major corporations and offer a variety of job opportunities. It's also a paradise for nature lovers with over 10,000 lakes, excellent hiking and biking trails, and five national parks. Furthermore, compared to the national average, Minnesota offers a lower cost of living, including housing, groceries, and healthcare.
At the same time, winters in Minnesota can be long, cold, and snowy. Minnesota also has a higher income tax compared to some other states.
Finally, while Minneapolis and St. Paul have good public transit, it can be limited in more rural areas. Owning a car is often necessary.
Minneapolis is located in southeast Minnesota on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of where the Minneapolis River and the Mississippi meet. Minneapolis is known as the “City of Lakes” and earns that title with its more than twenty lakes and wetlands. Translation: no matter where you rent an apartment in the city, you’re sure to be close to a lake. Ready to dive in? Let us help you find that perfect Minneapolis neighborhood.
Downtown Minneapolis is located in the Central community, in the very heart of the city. This area includes the park-filled neighborhoods of Elliot Park and Loring Park, affordable Stevens Square, historic and boutique-filled North Loop/Warehouse District, and clubby Downtown. If you can’t live without your live sports fix, you’ll want to make Downtown East near the Metrodome your home base, and if you get high off of high rises, you can raise the roof in Downtown West. Despite the limited outdoor space downtown apartments have gone out of their way to try and accommodate renters with dogs and cats. Most apartments are pet-friendly (for a fee) and a few of the new buildings in downtown even have their own on-site dog parks.
If you love Downtown, but hate city driving, you can ditch your car; Minneapolis’ easy and guaranteed light rail system is headquartered here. The Central community is dominated by educated single younger adults without children and is one of the pricier places to rent, so expect to pay for a 1BR apartment in the heart of Downtown.
South Minneapolis is located in the southeast corner of the city, west of the Mississippi (not to be confused with the Southeast area), and it contains the most diverse, outdoorsy and literary Minneapolitans, as well as the awesome Milwaukee Avenue Historic District. Phillips and Powderhorn are the most diverse and cultural communities in Minneapolis. A 1BR apartment in either of these communities will be quite affordable: $.
The literary Longfellow community and the outdoorsy Nokomis community are better bets for more upscale living, as both areas have highly educated, upper middle class residents. Almost every neighborhood in Longfellow is named after a literary figure, and the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District holds the most liberal people in Minneapolis. Nokomis has many large lakes, but keep in mind that it is located 5 minutes from the airport so if noise from overhead flights is an issue you may want to consider moving elsewhere. On the plus side, the Metropolitan Airport Commission has paid for roof insulation and new windows on most of the buildings in this neighborhood, so what once was loud is now a bit more muffled (once you’re indoors, that is).
For a 2BR apartment in either of these neighborhoods, expect to pay $$.
The Southwest area of Minneapolis, located south of Central and west of the Mississippi includes both the Calhoun Isle community, and the Southwest community. This area is very swanky, with the biggest lakes and the high-end Uptown shopping district. The Southwest community is filled with small upscale boutiques and the educated middle aged couples who live there are proud that their community breaks wildly from the traditional grid road pattern that the rest of the city follows. A 2BR townhome here will run you $$$.
Calhoun Isle is younger and more hip than Southwest, but this community is still very expensive. If you’re looking for a really awesome pad, try one of the apartments in the historic mansions and estates located in the Lowry Hill neighborhood. These apartments often include all the amenities, but sometimes an apartment with an in unit washer and dryer and on-site gym will have additional fees. A 1BR apartment there will cost $$.
North Minneapolis, called “NoMi” by the locals, is located in the northwest corner of the city, west of the Mississippi, and contains the communities of Near North and Camden. Near North houses a variety of people. A 2BR apartment anywhere in Near North will cost $$, but prices rise slightly in the Sumner Glenwood neighborhood. Camden has an older demographic than Near North, your neighbors there would be mostly middle-aged parentss. A 2BR house in Camden is really affordable ($$), but rent gets steep in the Lind-Bohanen neighborhood.
NoMi has a mixed reputation. Victory, in the Camden community, is known to be a place to call home.
Northeast is the only community located in the northeast part of Minneapolis, east of the Mississippi. We gotta admit, the east side has serious character. Northeast is a historic district, and used to be solely populated by Eastern European immigrants, but the area has gone through a recent revitalization. Now, Northeast is a highly diverse working class area that’s home to hipsters and the indie youth culture, and all the cool things that hipsters embrace, like farmer’s markets, a local art scene, and low rents. Still not convinced of the area’s awesomeness? How about the ability to find beautiful churches next to fantastic specialty food stores, next to your classic 1BR house, all for $? If you’ve got more money you can look for homes in Waite Park and Audubon Park ($$)..
Southeast is located east of the Mississippi and east of Central. The area’s not really south, but it is really cool. The only community in the Southeast area is University, which, you guessed it, is right near the University of Minnesota. Who knew? Single college kids and their highly educated professors populate this area, and the entire community is super affordable. Since a one bedroom apartment almost anywhere in University will only cost you $, you can choose to live in your perfect neighborhood.
Heaven for you might be the very diverse Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which not only has a hot music scene, but also boasts the second largest live theater scene in the entire U.S. Or, you might prefer community-friendly Prospect Park. If you want to go shopping every day, you would feel at home in Nicollet Island, but if you want to cruise the bars and restaurants searching for a date, Dinkytown (AKA College Central) would be the place for you. No matter where you live in University, the area is pedestrian-friendly..
Minneapolis has a lot of wonderful opportunities and neighborhoods, but it’s also the coldest city in the contiguous U.S. and you had better like snow to live here. Yes, Minnesota has citywide Wi-Fi and is home to a lot of cool techies. Yes, Minnesota is the third most literate metropolitan area in the nation. Yes, the area has more golfers per capita and is one of the best cities in America for running and biking (as well as many other outdoor sports), but if you want to be a Minneapolitan, you have to be able to handle the possibility of receiving over ninety-eight inches of snow in a single winter. So make sure to bring a jacket (or six).
However, even with the snow, Minneapolis was rated in 2011 as one of Forbes Best Cities for an Active Retirement. With four of the nations best hospitals, an incredibly philanthropic community, and all those outdoors sports, the City of Lakes would be a great place to retire, raise a family, or spend your prime.
