Is Raleigh cheaper than Minneapolis?

No. Minneapolis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 13% lower. Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Raleigh or Minneapolis?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Raleigh and 32 in Minneapolis (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Raleigh or Minneapolis?

School composites are close: A- in Raleigh and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Raleigh, NC vs Minneapolis, MN

Raleigh, NC versus Minneapolis, MN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,572 a month in Raleigh and $1,371 in Minneapolis, and median household income lands at $85,395 versus $80,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Raleigh takes job market, while Minneapolis takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Minneapolis leads by 19% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Raleigh can feel further apart than Raleigh and Minneapolis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Raleigh and Minneapolis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Raleigh report Full Minneapolis report

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Minneapolis, MN

Rent: $1,371/mo
Median income: $80,846
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 72°F

Rent

13% cheaper

Minneapolis rent is 13% cheaper than Raleigh

Raleigh

$1,572/mo

Minneapolis

Winner

$1,371/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Minneapolis is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,412 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Minneapolis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Raleigh.

Median income

6% higher

Raleigh's median income is 6% higher than Minneapolis

Raleigh

Winner

$85,395

Minneapolis

$80,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Raleigh — about $4,549 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Raleigh and Minneapolis are about even on crime index.

Raleigh

32 (100 = avg)

Minneapolis

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Raleigh and Minneapolis post similar crime indexes (32 vs 32, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Raleigh and Minneapolis are about even on school scores.

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

Minneapolis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Raleigh, A- in Minneapolis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

19% more comfortable

Minneapolis weather is 19% more comfortable than Raleigh

Raleigh

78°F typical

Minneapolis

Winner

72°F typical

What this means for your life

Minneapolis scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 78°F in Raleigh and 72°F in Minneapolis. Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year; Minneapolis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Minneapolis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Raleigh can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Raleigh

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Raleigh report →

Fit check

Who should choose Minneapolis

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Minneapolis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 19%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Minneapolis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Minneapolis report →

Bottom line

Raleigh vs Minneapolis, called

If weather is your priority, Minneapolis is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Raleigh pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Minneapolis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Raleigh vs Minneapolis FAQ

Is Raleigh cheaper than Minneapolis?: No. Minneapolis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 13% lower. Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Raleigh or Minneapolis?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Raleigh and 32 in Minneapolis (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Raleigh or Minneapolis?: School composites are close: A- in Raleigh and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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