Cary vs Minneapolis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Cary
Minneapolis
💡 The Verdict
Cary is 4% cheaper than Minneapolis overall. A $75,000 salary in Cary is equivalent to $77,941 in Minneapolis.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Cary (left) vs Minneapolis (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Cary versus Minneapolis. Differences shown from Cary perspective.
| Item | Cary | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,020/mo | $1,070/mo | $-50.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,340/mo | $1,500/mo | $-160.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,790/mo | $1,960/mo | $-170.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.65 | $2.93 | $-0.28 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.62 | $4.28 | $-0.66 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.77 | $3.29 | $-0.52 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.88 | $5.90 | $-0.02 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.45 | $3.54 | $-0.09 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.45 | $14.50 | +$1.95 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cary has the same purchasing power as $77,941 in Minneapolis.
Conversely, $75,000 in Minneapolis equals $72,170 in Cary.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1650 difference is driven by Minnesota having a higher state income tax rate. North Carolina details → · Minnesota details →
Reading These Numbers: Cary (102) vs Minneapolis (106)
Cary at 102 is 2% above the US average, while Minneapolis at 106 is 6% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Cary, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (96), utilities (92), transportation (106), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,340/mo in Cary and $1,500/mo in Minneapolis, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,920.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $9,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $8,000.0 difference in median home prices between Cary and Minneapolis translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Cary vs Minneapolis
Choosing between Cary and Minneapolis involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Cary and Minneapolis reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.