Cost of Living: Boston vs Minneapolis
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Boston compared to Minneapolis?
In Boston, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $74K in Minneapolis. That means Minneapolis offers 35% 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
$74K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $74K in Minneapolis vs $100K in Boston
Boston
83.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Minneapolis
61.4
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Minneapolis is 26% cheaper than Boston
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Boston and Minneapolis, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Boston median | Minneapolis median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $153K | $126K | Minneapolis wins by 11% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $141K | $110K | Minneapolis wins by 6% |
| Cloud Architect | $116K | $90K | Minneapolis wins by 6% |
| Management Analysts | $160K | $113K | Boston wins by 4% |
| Data Scientists | $114K | $136K | Minneapolis wins by 61% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.74x). 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 Boston vs Minneapolis?
A: Boston is approximately 35% more expensive than Minneapolis, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Minneapolis is equivalent to about $135K in Boston. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Boston to match $100,000 in Minneapolis?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Minneapolis, you would need approximately $135K in Boston. 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 Boston and Minneapolis?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Minneapolis wins by 11% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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