Denver, CO vs Minneapolis, MN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Minneapolis, MN and Denver, CO are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Denver works out to about $74,300 in Minneapolis, before taxes.
- Housing is 23.9% lower in Minneapolis, goods 2.1% higher and other services 5.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,736 a month in Minneapolis and $1,900 in Denver, $1,968 a year less in Minneapolis (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $388,000 in Minneapolis and $555,000 in Denver.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Denver and Minneapolis
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
All items Denver, CO: 105.8 Minneapolis, MN: 104.8
Goods Denver, CO: 101.0 Minneapolis, MN: 103.1
Housing (rents) Denver, CO: 146.9 Minneapolis, MN: 111.8
Utilities Denver, CO: 87.9 Minneapolis, MN: 93.5
Other services Denver, CO: 99.4 Minneapolis, MN: 104.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 104.8 |
| Goods | 101.0 | 103.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 146.9 | 111.8 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 93.5 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 104.4 |
| Category | Denver | Minneapolis | Minneapolis vs Denver |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 104.8 | −0.9% |
| Goods | 101.0 | 103.1 | +2.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 146.9 | 111.8 | −23.9% |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 93.5 | +6.4% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 104.4 | +5.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 | $1,736 | −8.6% |
| Typical home value | $555,000 | $388,000 | −30.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Denver | $75,000 | $74,300 | −0.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Denver and Minneapolis has narrowed since 2008: 2.9 points then, 1.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.8 | 102.9 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 105.0 |
| 2010 | 101.9 | 102.3 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 105.1 | 101.2 |
| 2013 | 104.9 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 104.8 | 103.6 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 104.3 | 102.3 |
| 2018 | 102.4 | 104.7 |
| 2019 | 104.4 | 102.7 |
| 2020 | 109.4 | 102.4 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 103.5 |
| 2022 | 107.3 | 102.6 |
| 2023 | 105.8 | 104.3 |
| 2024 | 105.8 | 104.8 |
Goods
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.9 | 104.3 |
| 2009 | 102.9 | 106.5 |
| 2010 | 102.9 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 103.2 | 101.7 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 102.9 | 100.9 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 103.7 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 102.0 |
| 2016 | 100.5 | 100.0 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 103.1 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 105.1 |
| 2019 | 103.5 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | 107.1 | 100.5 |
| 2021 | 106.7 | 103.2 |
| 2022 | 105.2 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 101.6 | 104.5 |
| 2024 | 101.0 | 103.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 122.8 | 119.9 |
| 2009 | 120.0 | 116.8 |
| 2010 | 123.1 | 114.1 |
| 2011 | 131.1 | 113.9 |
| 2012 | 127.5 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 128.7 | 115.0 |
| 2014 | 134.3 | 115.5 |
| 2015 | 141.6 | 119.7 |
| 2016 | 147.2 | 116.6 |
| 2017 | 148.2 | 119.6 |
| 2018 | 148.3 | 116.8 |
| 2019 | 147.3 | 118.0 |
| 2020 | 152.6 | 112.0 |
| 2021 | 146.2 | 114.7 |
| 2022 | 145.6 | 119.0 |
| 2023 | 146.1 | 110.3 |
| 2024 | 146.9 | 111.8 |
Utilities
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.3 | 86.7 |
| 2009 | 78.9 | 86.5 |
| 2010 | 81.9 | 82.2 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 82.5 |
| 2012 | 81.7 | 87.7 |
| 2013 | 79.5 | 85.9 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 87.4 |
| 2015 | 87.2 | 86.6 |
| 2016 | 88.6 | 92.8 |
| 2017 | 85.1 | 92.8 |
| 2018 | 88.7 | 96.0 |
| 2019 | 93.2 | 91.7 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 90.8 |
| 2021 | 92.6 | 90.2 |
| 2022 | 95.2 | 85.8 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 89.8 |
| 2024 | 87.9 | 93.5 |
Other services
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 101.9 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 101.6 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 101.2 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 100.6 |
| 2017 | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 102.0 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 99.7 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 101.5 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 101.3 |
| 2022 | 100.0 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 99.3 | 103.1 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 104.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,736 in Minneapolis vs $1,900 in Denver
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,273 | $1,134 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,321 | $1,160 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,333 | $1,165 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,336 | $1,160 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,357 | $1,172 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,386 | $1,207 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,384 | $1,212 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,369 | $1,211 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,405 | $1,242 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,445 | $1,266 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,450 | $1,275 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,442 | $1,275 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,469 | $1,309 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,499 | $1,319 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,502 | $1,329 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,500 | $1,333 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,525 | $1,364 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,557 | $1,385 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,556 | $1,385 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,555 | $1,389 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,571 | $1,414 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,559 | $1,416 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,573 | $1,416 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,553 | $1,406 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,585 | $1,419 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,674 | $1,460 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,757 | $1,480 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,758 | $1,478 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,806 | $1,510 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,871 | $1,540 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,877 | $1,544 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,844 | $1,529 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,878 | $1,559 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,917 | $1,576 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,924 | $1,574 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,892 | $1,567 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,920 | $1,597 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,953 | $1,618 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,946 | $1,619 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,879 | $1,611 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,892 | $1,643 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,925 | $1,671 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,899 | $1,677 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,849 | $1,680 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,865 | $1,700 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,899 | $1,728 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,900 | $1,736 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $388,000 in Minneapolis vs $555,000 in Denver
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Minneapolis, MN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $299K | $223K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $310K | $227K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $320K | $229K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $329K | $233K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $339K | $238K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $348K | $242K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $354K | $244K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $362K | $248K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $372K | $255K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $380K | $260K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $382K | $262K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $389K | $265K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $398K | $272K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $405K | $277K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $410K | $281K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $413K | $282K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $419K | $287K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $422K | $290K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $424K | $291K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $429K | $294K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $438K | $301K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $442K | $304K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $448K | $306K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $466K | $318K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $487K | $330K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $518K | $344K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $534K | $350K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $546K | $352K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $580K | $364K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $609K | $376K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $596K | $372K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $581K | $367K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $571K | $365K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $571K | $369K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $579K | $372K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $581K | $371K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $581K | $372K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $582K | $374K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $583K | $373K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $585K | $378K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $580K | $380K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $569K | $378K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $565K | $381K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $567K | $385K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $562K | $388K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $554K | $386K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $555K | $388K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Denver, CO
- Cost of living in Minneapolis, MN
- Reverse: moving from Minneapolis to Denver
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.