Living in Minneapolis: Pros & Cons from a Local in 2023

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Kassidy Olson

Kassidy lived in a Minneapolis suburb recently and visits Minneapolis at least 10 times per year. She has a lot of experience visiting the Twin Cities.

If you’re on the hunt for somewhere new to move and are wondering what living in Minneapolis is like, I’ve got you covered.

I’ve lived in Minnesota for my entire life and lived in a suburb of Minneapolis for a year. I visited Minneapolis every week and got a great feel for the living situation in the Twin Cities.

During my time living in the area, I was able to find many pros and cons, learn about the safety of the city, find the best neighborhoods, and more. I even learned that my favorite part of Minneapolis is the food.

So in this post, I’m going to share everything that I learned from moving to Minneapolis and give you my honest thoughts on living there! Let’s dive in.

Pros of Living in Minneapolis

Myself and Tyler at the top of a ski hill, wearing our skiing gear.

1. Year-Round Outdoor Activities

One of my favorite parts of the Twin Cities is that there are activities that can get you outside year-round, even when the weather isn’t ideal.

Although Minnesota does get extremely cold in winter, I’ve always found that Minneapolis does a great job keeping people busy. I’ve even attended outdoor festivals in February, thanks to the effort to keep us all busy year-round!

In the summer, there are hiking trails everywhere and in the winter those turn into paths for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

I was even able to get out and go downhill skiing at the local ski resorts without having to drive very far, which made my outdoor-loving self very happy!

A view of sunset at a lake in Minnesota with a dock in it.

2. Lots of Great Job Opportunities

Whether you’re moving to the city with a career already in mind or you’re searching for something, there are all sorts of job opportunities in the Twin Cities.

From the endless retail stores and fast food chains to hospitals looking for nurses and companies looking for engineers, there are thousands of opportunities!

In fact, Minneapolis is home to multiple Fortune 500 companies that you could apply to work for, including Target and Xcel Energy, both headquartered in Minneapolis.

And speaking of good employment opportunities, the unemployment rates are low, so there are always jobs available to apply for.

A view of skyscrapers in Minneapolis as seen while driving on a road into the city.

3. Low Unemployment Rate

Speaking of job opportunities, the unemployment rate in Minneapolis is quite low! The average unemployment rate in the United States has hovered between 3.5 and 3.7% for a few years now.

But in Minneapolis, the average unemployment rate sits at around 2.2%, which is about 1.5% lower than that of the national average.

Minnesota actually has one of the lowest rates in the country, so you can expect most people in the state to be employed.

4. Average to Lower Cost of Living

One of the best parts of living in Minnesota is that the cost of living is much lower than in other places. We lived in Washington State for 6 months and when we moved back to Minneapolis, we felt like we had gotten a huge raise because of the difference in living costs.

Finances are obviously a huge factor in a lot of people’s lives, so having that lower cost of living makes a huge difference.

It really allowed us to live more comfortably without having to worry about finances as much, so it will likely do the same for you if you’re coming from an expensive location.

Tyler and I in front of Minnehaha Falls, an outdoor space in Minneapolis.

5. Easy Access to Nature

One of the best parts about the Twin Cities is that they have such easy access to nature, that you can almost always get outside.

There aren’t many big cities that have such easy access to the outdoors. But Minneapolis has dozens of parks located right within the city limits!

A few of my favorite locations for getting outdoors are Theodore Wirth Regional Park and Fort Snelling State Park. I visit both of these often and they feel so far removed from the city.

6. Above-Average School Systems

The Twin Cities also have some really great education systems, whether that be for elementary, middle school, high school, or post-secondary.

The University of Minnesota, with campuses in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, is perhaps one of the best and most well-known colleges in the state.

Whether you’re looking for private schools or public, there are also many options, many of which rank up amongst the best in the country.

People eating pizza at the bottom of stairs at Surly Brewing, where there is a brightly painted wall.

7. Great Brewery Scene

If you’re into visiting new breweries, then you won’t be disappointed to hear that Minneapolis has a fantastic craft beer scene. There are over 30 in Minneapolis alone!

One of my favorites that we visited often when we lived in Minneapolis is Surly Brewing. They always have unique brews on tap and they also sell really delicious pizza!

If you aren’t a brewery person but love wine, then you’ll also want to check out the many wineries that are nearby.

The METRO light rail parked outside of the Union Depot, that people living in Minneapolis can ride.

8. Easy Transportation

One thing that the Twin Cities makes easy is getting around from place to place, espeically with their public transportation.

One of the easiest is their light rails, which operate all over between the two cities. The METRO Blue Line goes between Mall of America and Target Field while the METRO Green Line is between Downtown Minneapolis, U of M, and Downtown St. Paul.

I also love Minneapolis’ effort to keep people out of the cold in winter, with the massive skyway system. There are almost 10 miles of skyways that connect buildings in Minneapolis!

Minneapolis has also been named one of the most bikeable cities in the USA with dozens of miles of paved bike lanes and bikeways.

A brochure at the Ordway Theater for the Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical.

9. Plenty of Things to Keep You Busy

As I’ve mentioned above, there are plenty of outdoor activities to check out when living in Minneapolis, but there are also tons of indoor things to do.

So no matter what the weather is, you can always find something to keep yourself busy. Even during the winter months!

A few of my favorite activities include seeing the view from the Foshay Observation Deck and watching a show at the local theaters.

Myself holding a jucy lucy burger while eating at a restaurant that I visited while living in Minneapolis.

10. Lots of New Foods to Try

One of my personal favorite parts from the time that I lived in Minneapolis was trying all of the tasty restaurants. I’m pretty sure that we tried somewhere new at least once a week.

Minneapolis has everything from dive bars to buffets to Hibachi to brunch or late-night snacks. Matt’s Bar is one of the most popular, with the original Jucy Lucy’s!

You can find hundreds of local restaurants, but there are also tons of great chains, so no matter what you’re craving, you’ll be able to find something!

11. Not Too Large

I’ve never been a huge fan of cities because of how loud and busy they get. But Minneapolis has always felt smaller to me than other major cities.

I traveled through Chicago last year and when compared to Minneapolis, Minneapolis just felt so much quieter and calmer.

Now that’s not to say that it doesn’t get busy, because it does. It just feels more like a small town than some other cities that I’ve been to!

While you will still encounter traffic and rush hour, the Twin Cities give off a smaller feel, and you won’t ever feel as ambushed by people as you do in other large cities.

Cons of Living in Minneapolis, MN

A view of a sky walk and buildings that can be seen when living in Minneapolis.

12. Crime and Violence

Since Minneapolis is a pretty large city, there is bound to be crime here, just like any other major city in the country. It does have a fairly high crime rate, unfortunately.

We do see some violent crimes, as well as property crimes. There are areas that have more issues than others, so it’s best to avoid them.

It’s really important to be aware and alert of your surroundings at all times, but in the end, Minneapolis is a pretty safe city to live in.

13. Surprisingly High Taxes

Although we have a lower cost of living here in Minneapolis, we also do have some pretty high taxes, which can be quite frustrating to us residents.

It seems that sometimes those taxes offset our low cost of living!

We have an average combined state and local sales tax of around 7.49%, according to Tax Foundation.

On top of that, we also have really high taxes on income and meals, putting us in the top 10 for income taxes in the USA.

Snow covered trees after a winter storm in Minnesota.

14. Unpredictable Weather

One of my least favorite parts of Minnesota is our unpredictable weather, which can never really seem to make up its mind.

We get a lot of snow here and the temperatures can get really cold. So this is something that you’ll want to be prepared for if you plan on moving here.

There have been times when it’s been so cold that I can barely step outside to let my dog go to the bathroom. It’s just part of living here!

15. Long Winters

To go along with the cold and unpredictable weather, we also have some of the longest winters that I feel like anyone experiences!

We have winter from around November until typically around May. So this covers about 7 months out of the year.

You never really know how long winter will last and when summer will roll around, and it can be one of the worst parts of life in Minneapolis.

A view of a tree and the city from the Union Depot in Minneapolis.

16. Parking Can Be Tough

Since the Twin Cities are a pretty large metro area, you can expect to see a lot of people around at all times.

This means that traffic is found everywhere and parking can be pretty limited. There have been times where I’ve had to park 3 blocks away just to walk into my favorite coffee shop.

Typically, the parking is also paid (ramp or street), so you’ll need to either have some change on you or use your card to pay via an app.

17. Locals Stick to Themselves

Although you may have heard the phrase “Minnesota Nice” a time or two, it can actually be kind of tough to crack the locals around here.

We tend to stick to ourselves and just mind our own business, but once you get to know us, we’re nice as can be.

So just give the locals a chance, and try to make friends with a few of them. Most will come around.

A view of the Twin Cities skyline from the highway.

Is Minneapolis a Good Place to Live?

Yes, Minneapolis is a good place to live if you’re looking for a big city located here in the northern Midwest.

As one of the largest metro areas in the Midwest, Minneapolis has plenty to do, has great transportation, and offers lots of opportunities for employment.

One of the major pluses of living here is that you don’t have to live right in the center of the city to reap the benefits. I lived in a city suburb and felt just as close to the big city without actually being in it!

The Twin Cities Metro area is a huge area that includes many different cities and towns, all of which have plenty to do. And most are within 30 minutes of Downtown Minneapolis.

Overall, Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great place to consider for your next move, whether it’s your first time to the north, or you’ve lived here forever.

The Twin Cities from a distance with the Mississippi River. — Photo by Zach Vessels on Unsplash

Cost of Living in the Twin Cities

Cost of living is one of the most important things to consider when you’re thinking about making a move to somewhere new.

To determine what the yearly cost of Minneapolis is, you can use this tool, created by Minnesota Employment and Economic Development.

The tool states that as of 2021, the average yearly cost for a single person with no children, living in Hennepin County is around $36,000.

This includes housing, food, taxes, transport, and more.

Now, take this with a grain of salt, because prices have risen and every person is different in their needs and wants.

The cost to live in the Minneapolis area is pretty similar to the national average, according to Pay Scale, and it’s typically reported as having a lower cost.

Is Minneapolis a Safe City to Live In?

Compared to other large cities around the United States, Minneapolis is a fairly safe city to live in.

According to Neighborhood Scout, the chances of you becoming a victim of a property crime are higher than those of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

About 13 people in every 1,000 become victims of violent crime, and about 45 people in every 1,000 become victims of property crime.

While there is crime within Minneapolis, it’s important to remember that there is crime almost anywhere that you go, so it’s not unique to Minnesota.

To keep yourself safe, avoid walking alone after dark, lock your doors, be alert, trust your instincts, and carry safety items such as pepper spray and a personal alarm.

FAQs About Moving to Minneapolis

What Salary Do You Need to Live in Minneapolis?

According to Apartment List, as a rule of thumb, you’ll want to make an average of at least $40,000 annually to live in Minneapolis as a single person. To live more freely and comfortably, you’ll likely want to make closer to $50,000-$60,000 for one person.

Is Minneapolis, MN a Good Place for Retirement?

Yes, Minneapolis is a nice place to retire with plenty of places to live, opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, and plenty of suburbs to retire in if you don’t want to be right in the city.

Is Minneapolis a High Cost of Living?

Minneapolis has an average living cost. The cost is higher than in other cities in Minnesota but sits pretty evenly with other large cities in the Midwest. It is much cheaper than large cities like Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and New York City, though.

Are People Friendly in Minneapolis?

Yes, there is a reason that they say we are ‘Minnesota Nice!’ The locals are friendly in Minneapolis, it just may take them a bit of time to warm up to you, as with anyone! So get to know your neighbors and who knows, you may make a new friend.

Is Moving to Minneapolis a Good Idea?

Yes, Minnesota is a good place to live and a move here is a good idea. The state has a lower cost of living, is beautiful, and has plenty to do.

Is Minneapolis a Livable City?

Yes, Minneapolis is a great place to live, and many people, including myself, have really enjoyed living in the Twin Cities!

Conclusion: Living in Minneapolis

While there are certainly plenty of things to consider when you’re making a move, one thing is for certain; moving to Minneapolis is a good idea.

Now that you know a bit more about what it’s like to be living in Minneapolis, you should be almost set to pack up and move on over to the Land of 10,000 Lakes!