City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Minneapolis, MN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 2.6% higher than in Fresno, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Fresno, CA would need about $102,600 in Minneapolis, MN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA and $1,405 in Minneapolis, MN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $5,277 in MN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.5% moving from Fresno, CA to Minneapolis, MN ($106,973 → $116,038), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.7% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- Minneapolis, MN: price level 104.8 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fresno, CA | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 104.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,608 in Minneapolis | $97,459 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,405/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $73,903 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,277 (MN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $59,320 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 111.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 103.1 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 93.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 104.4 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 104.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Minneapolis, MN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$206/yr.
61 Fair offer
Minneapolis, MN → Fresno, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$206/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Minneapolis, MN is in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Minneapolis, MN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Minneapolis, MN | Real change, Fresno → Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $67,290 | +5.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $81,415 | +5.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $97,582 | +5.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $116,038 | +5.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $137,123 | +5.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $79,730 | $77,704 (−1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $130,920 | $127,593 (−1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $86,500 | $84,302 (+7.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $103,040 | $100,421 (−19.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.