Minnesota vs. Rochester Cost of Living Summary

Minnesota is 3.5% more expensive than Rochester.

Restaurants
pay 7.9% less in Minnesota
Groceries
pay 8.8% more in Minnesota
Transportation
pay 10.8% more in Minnesota
Housing
pay 4.5% more in Minnesota
Childcare
pay 14.9% less in Minnesota
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.4% more in Minnesota
Clothing
pay 16.8% more in Minnesota

The cost of clothing, transportation, groceries, entertainment and sports, and housing in Minnesota are more expensive than in Rochester. Expenses including childcare and restaurants are lower in Minnesota.

Minnesota vs. Rochester Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Minnesota instead of Rochester, you would:

pay 7.9% less for restaurants

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $25.00
 
$18.17
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.00
 
$11.25
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.29
 
$2.48
 

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pay 8.8% more for groceries

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Bread
1 loaf
$3.01
 
$3.28
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.49
 
$5.34
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.61
 
$3.66
 

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pay 10.8% more for transportation

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.35
 
$3.15
 
Monthly public transit pass $42.00
 
$72.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,344.69
 
$32,149.01
 

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pay 4.5% more for housing

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.66
 
$67.48
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,462.00
 
$1,182.19
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,132.00
 
$1,123.71
 

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pay 14.9% less for childcare

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,356.50
 
$1,260.39
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $29,200.00
 
$22,591.00
 

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pay 6.4% more for entertainment and sports

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.25
 
$5.52
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.00
 
$5.01
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$15.00
 
$10.69
 

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pay 16.8% more for clothing

 
Rochester
Minnesota
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$40.71
 
$53.07
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$33.30
 
$45.44
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$84.47
 
$77.05
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2026
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