Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877
San Diego
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($328,700 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $813/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,080)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Diego by $22,325/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
San Diego, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $22,325 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Minneapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$455k less
$328,700 vs $783,300
Minneapolis
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.1°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$22,325
$98,657 vs $76,332/yr
San Diego
Violent Crime
64% lower
412.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 13 and San Diego wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Minneapolis to San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $783,300 median home), income ($76,332 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and San Diego, CA are about 1,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.