Moving from Minneapolis to Phoenix
A typical worker keeps $3,859 more a year in Minneapolis than in Phoenix, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Minneapolis salary of $59,320, you'd need about $56,300 in Phoenix.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $3,859 more a year in Minneapolis than in Phoenix.
- Typical salary
- $59,320
- Federal income tax
- −$4,938
- Payroll taxes
- −$4,799
- State income tax
- −$2,510
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$17,640
- Everyday costs
- −$18,265
a year, or $931 a month
- Typical salary
- $51,380
- Federal income tax
- −$3,986
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,931
- State income tax
- −$1,076
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$17,688
- Everyday costs
- −$17,390
a year, or $609 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Minneapolis | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)1.4% cheaper | 104.8 | 103.3 |
| Rent, studio$65 more | $1,302 | $1,367 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$4 more | $1,470 | $1,474 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$71 less | $1,786 | $1,715 |
| Food$40 less | $509 | $469 |
| Transportation$31 less | $402 | $371 |
| Healthcare$2 less | $368 | $366 |
| Utilities$1 less | $244 | $243 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$69 less | $2,992 | $2,923 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Minneapolis | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$3,859 less | $59,320 | $51,380 |
| Registered nurse$2,897 more | $103,040 | $100,830 |
| Teacher$8,717 less | $76,152 | $59,704 |
| Electrician$11,167 less | $81,890 | $61,210 |
| Accountant$241 less | $86,500 | $80,820 |
| Software engineer$6,329 more | $130,920 | $131,750 |
| Truck driver$893 less | $64,200 | $59,770 |
| Nursing assistant$329 less | $48,020 | $45,290 |
| Medical assistant$2,465 less | $52,570 | $46,830 |
| Carpenter$6,917 less | $74,060 | $60,320 |
| Project manager$6,131 more | $97,860 | $100,780 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $59,320 (a typical Minneapolis wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Minneapolis | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $4,938 | $4,938 |
| Payroll taxes$261 less | $4,799 | $4,538 |
| State income tax$1,236 less | $2,510 | $1,274 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$1,497 less | $12,248 | $10,751 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Minneapolis | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$7,514 more | $77,732 | $85,246 |
| Median home value$86,600 more | $368,300 | $454,900 |
| Unemployment rate1.4 pts lower | 5.5% | 4.1% |
| Working from home4.1 pts lower | 20.9% | 16.8% |
Moving to Phoenix
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix than Minneapolis?
Yes: prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the US average, against 5% above the US average in the Minneapolis area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,474 a month in Phoenix and $1,470 in Minneapolis.
How much more is rent in Phoenix?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $4 a month (0.3%) higher in Phoenix: $1,474 in Phoenix against $1,470 in Minneapolis.
How much do I need to earn in Phoenix to keep the same as in Minneapolis?
A typical worker in Minneapolis earns $59,320. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $56,300 in Phoenix.
Will I pay more tax in Phoenix?
Arizona taxes wages, and Minnesota taxes wages. On a typical Minneapolis salary of $59,320, total income and payroll taxes come to $10,751 in Phoenix and $12,248 in Minneapolis.
Do people keep more money in Phoenix or Minneapolis?
A typical worker keeps $3,859 more a year in Minneapolis than in Phoenix: $7,309 in Phoenix against $11,168 in Minneapolis, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate