Cost of Living: Minnesota vs Tennessee
Tennessee is cheaper for a single adult by about $26/month, mainly driven by rent.
Comparison at a glance
- Monthly difference$26/moTennessee saves vs Minnesota
- Housing difference$50/moMinnesota cheaper on 1BR rent
- Grocery difference$17/moTennessee has a lighter basket
- Equivalent salary≈ $75,500$75,000 in Tennessee → Minnesota
- Cheaper overallTennessee~1% lower single-adult budget
- Affordability winnerTennesseeLower combined rent + essentials
Side-by-side single-adult budget
The big differences between Minnesota and Tennessee come down to rent and tax. Groceries, transport, and utilities are usually within 10–15%; housing can swing the total by hundreds of dollars per month.
Cost of Living Verdict
Six quick takes on where Minnesota and Tennessee actually pull ahead.
- Cheaper overallTie
Minnesota and Tennessee have similar single-adult monthly totals.
- Better housing affordabilityMinnesota
Average 1BR rent is $1,300 vs $1,350.
- Better for familiesTennessee
Tennessee keeps the family-of-four monthly total lower thanks to cheaper 2BR rent and groceries.
- Better for retireesTie
Healthcare, rent, and tax pressure are comparable for fixed-income retirees.
- Better for remote workersTennessee
Tennessee has a lower cost index (90 vs 94), so an out-of-state salary stretches further.
- Better purchasing powerMinnesota
Minnesota has a stronger median-income-to-cost ratio — local wages cover more of the typical basket.
What this difference means in practice
The headline gap broken into the four buckets that actually move household budgets.
- Housing impact
Minnesota runs about 4% cheaper on housing than Tennessee — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
- Daily spending
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on groceries than Minnesota — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
- Transport & utilities
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on transport + utilities than Minnesota — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
- Lifestyle
Tennessee runs about 4% cheaper on lifestyle (dining + extras) than Minnesota — noticeable, but not a deciding factor on its own.
Purchasing power snapshot
Which region stretches a dollar further, category by category.
- Housingslight advantageMinnesota
Minnesota is the cheaper place to rent or own.
- Groceriesslight advantageTennessee
Weekly grocery basket is lighter in Tennessee.
- Utilitiesslight advantageTennessee
Lower monthly utility load in Tennessee.
- Transportslight advantageTennessee
Cheaper commuting overall in Tennessee.
- Healthcareslight advantageTennessee
Lower out-of-pocket healthcare in Tennessee.
- Lifestyleslight advantageTennessee
Dining, entertainment, and extras are cheaper in Tennessee.
Who benefits more?
The same comparison reads very differently depending on the household.
- FamiliesTennessee
Lower 2BR rent and grocery load make Tennessee the easier family budget.
- SinglesTie
Single-adult monthly totals are close.
- RetireesTie
Housing, healthcare, and tax pressure look similar.
- Remote workersTennessee
An out-of-state salary stretches further in Tennessee thanks to a lower cost index.
- StudentsTie
Rent, transport, and groceries cost similar amounts.
- High earnersMinnesota
Minnesota blends a more efficient tax load with stronger local incomes.
Equivalent lifestyle salary
How much you'd need in Minnesota to match the lifestyle a given salary buys in Tennessee.
needed in Minnesota for the same lifestyle.
needed in Minnesota for the same lifestyle.
needed in Minnesota for the same lifestyle.
Housing affordability
Rent is roughly equivalent in both regions — housing won't be the deciding factor.
Ownership affordability follows the same shape: lower rents typically signal more attainable mortgage payments at similar incomes.
Category-by-category
| Category | Minnesota | Tennessee | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR rent) | $1,300 | $1,350 | Minnesota |
| Groceries | $395 | $378 | Tennessee |
| Utilities | $183 | $176 | Tennessee |
| Transportation | $451 | $432 | Tennessee |
| Healthcare | $301 | $288 | Tennessee |
| Top income tax | 0.1% | 0.0% | Tied |
| Lifestyle (dining + extras) | $470 | $450 | Tennessee |
Comparison FAQ
- Is Minnesota more expensive than Tennessee?
- Minnesota and Tennessee cost about the same per month for a single adult.
- How much salary do I need to move from Tennessee to Minnesota?
- If $100,000 supports your lifestyle in Tennessee, you'd need roughly $101,000 in Minnesota to maintain the same purchasing power.
- Which region offers better affordability?
- Tennessee comes out lower on the combined single-adult budget — about $26/mo cheaper than Minnesota.
- Is housing significantly cheaper in one of them?
- Rent is roughly equivalent in both regions — housing won't be the deciding factor.
- Can a remote worker benefit from moving?
- Yes — a remote salary anchored to Minnesota rates stretches further in Tennessee, where local prices and taxes are lower.
- What income is considered comfortable in Minnesota?
- Roughly $59,000/yr gross typically supports a comfortable single-adult lifestyle in Minnesota, leaving room for savings on top of monthly costs.
Related cost-of-living comparisons
- Minnesota vs Wisconsin cost of living
- Minnesota vs Iowa cost of living
- Minnesota vs South Dakota cost of living
- Minnesota vs North Dakota cost of living
- Tennessee vs Kentucky cost of living
- Tennessee vs Virginia cost of living
- Tennessee vs North Carolina cost of living
- Tennessee vs Georgia cost of living
- Tennessee vs Alabama cost of living
- Tennessee vs Mississippi cost of living
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These estimates are approximate and may vary by city, taxes, rent, family size, and personal spending. Use them as a starting point, not a substitute for personalised financial or tax advice.