Minneapolis Vs. Portland: Which is Better & Key Differences (2023)
Are you considering moving to a new city and are looking at Minneapolis vs Portland?
These two cities are popular among a lot of the population, and for good reasons including access to nature, good job opportunities, and more.
But with one being located in the Midwest and the other in the Pacific Northwest, there are also many differences between them.
I’ve lived in both of these cities. I was born and raised in Minnesota and lived just a short distance from Minneapolis, and lived in Portland for 6 months last year.
So I have a wealth of knowledge on these two cities, and am here to give you a rundown on which will be better for your situation!
Minneapolis Vs. Portland: Which is Better?
Whether you’re looking at moving or are just deciding which city to visit, Minneapolis and Portland are great candidates.
Minneapolis and Portland are two vibrant cities in the United States that have their own unique charm and personality.
Minneapolis, located in the Midwest, is known for its cold winters and friendly people. It has a great parks system, beautiful theaters, shopping, and more.
In contrast, Portland, located on the west coast, has a more laid-back and eco-friendly vibe. It’s known for its great coffee shops, craft breweries, and access to the mountains.
Since it’s tough to decide which is better based on just these things, I’m going to walk you through a variety of differences and similarities between them.
Differences Between Minneapolis, MN and Portland, OR
When deciding between these two locations, it’s very important to consider all of the differences and similarities between them.
There are quite a few things to look at, as the cities are fairly different in quite a few ways.
Cost of Living
Cost of living is one of the top considerations when moving somewhere new, so let’s look at the cost of living in Portland and Minneapolis.
In Portland, you can expect to find a pretty high cost of living, since it’s found in the Pacific Northwest.
According to Pay Scale, Portland’s cost of living is 24% higher than the national average, and 27% higher than in Minneapolis.
The median cost of a home is over $700,000 and the average rent for an apartment is over $2,000 per month.
As for Minneapolis, the cost of living is 1% lower than the national average, and 20% lower than in Portland.
You can expect to pay a median price of around $400,000 for a nice home, and about $1,300 per month on rent for a one-bedroom apartment.
Note: Remember to take all of these costs with a grain of salt. They will all depend greatly on a multitude of things and will vary by year. They’re just averages!
Employment Opportunities
Whether you’re moving to either city with a job already lined up or you’re on the hunt for one, you should consider employment opportunities and the job market.
Luckily, both Portland or Minneapolis offer great employment opportunities, with many large companies and low unemployment rates.
Unemployment rates in Minneapolis average around 2.9%, and Portland has an average of about 4.5%.
Minneapolis has multiple Fortune 500 companies including Target, and Portland is home to the headquarters of Nike.
Weather
Weather is an important consideration when you’re looking to move somewhere, and if you’re hoping for tropical, don’t choose Minneapolis or Portland.
These two destinations have chilly winters, with Portland having more mild weather and Minneapolis having extreme cold.
Snow can fall in either city, but Portland doesn’t see this often, and Minneapolis sees an average of 50 inches per year.
But, if you drive a short distance from Portland, you can find mountains that see upwards of 200 inches of snow per year, like Mount Hood.
The summers between the two are similar, with warm temperatures, bright sunny skies, and beautiful weather.
Something interesting to note though, is that both Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon have very similar latitudes, with Portland has 45o N and Minneapolis at 44o N. But the climate is very different!
Geography
When looking at the differences between Portland vs Minneapolis, we can easily see that one of the main differences is the geography.
Minneapolis is a fairly flat city with small rivers, lots of trees and forests, and no mountains.
In fact, you won’t find a mountain anywhere within Minnesota, and this can make our state look awfully small and flat.
On the other hand, Portland is surrounded by volcanic mountains, so there are a lot more rolling hills surrounding the city.
You’ll also find the Columbia River Gorge that runs through the Oregon-Washington border, which is a huge part of the PNW. Plus, the ocean is just a short hour or so away.
Size
The size of these two cities is also a considerable difference, with Portland being the larger of the two.
When it comes to the size of Portland, it’s about 145 square miles stretching out across the metropolitan area.
Minneapolis is just over 1/3 the size of Portland, at about 58 square miles, which stretches across the Twin Cities.
The population should also be considered, with Minneapolis having a population of about 425,000, and Portland having about 641,000, both in 2021.
So Portland is a much larger city than Minneapolis, coming in as the 26th most populated city in the United States.
Safety & Crime
The safety of where you live is a huge factor in determining where to move, and Minneapolis and Portland both have concerns with crime.
Something to consider though, is that all major cities have quite a bit of crime, so this isn’t a solitary matter.
The crime rate in Minneapolis is pretty high, sitting at 58 crimes per 1,000 residents, with the majority being property crimes, according to Neighborhood Scout.
And as for Portland, you can find an even higher crime rate, at 66 crimes per 1,000 residents, being one of the highest in America.
When visiting or moving to either city, you should try to stick to safer neighborhoods, try not to walk around alone (especially at night), and always take extra safety precautions.
Activities (Indoors)
One of my favorite parts about living in both Minneapolis and Portland is that there is always something to do, either indoors or outdoors.
As for indoor activities, both feature many things to do from museums to shopping to grabbing a bite to eat.
No matter what you want to do, you can find something to do inside on snowy or rainy days in either city.
Activities (Outdoors)
When it comes to getting outdoors in Minneapolis vs Portland, both of these cities are fantastic for having things to do!
In Minneapolis, there is a fantastic parks system that allows you to escape into nature without hardly leaving the city!
From beautiful hiking trails to fishing lakes to paddleboarding, you can explore Minnesota’s amazing lakes and more without going far.
And as for Portland, there are so many ways to get outdoors without leaving the city.
And if you want to drive a short distance from either city, you can find even better outdoor adventures!
Living in Minneapolis Pros & Cons
Considering the pros and cons of each city before moving there is very important, to make sure that you’ll enjoy yourself.
Moving somewhere new can come with a lot of shock, so preparing yourself by understanding its best and worst qualities can really help limit that!
Pros
Here are some of the best parts of living in the city of Minneapolis in Minnesota!
Year-Round Activities
One of the very best parts about living in Minneapolis is that you’ll have access to some pretty great activities no matter the weather.
With summer comes fun things such as kayaking and paddle boarding, swimming, hiking, and more.
And in the winter months, you can still take advantage of the outdoors by participating in winter activities like skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling.
Minnesotans know how to not let the cold weather get the best of them!
Lower Cost of Living
When compared to other large cities, Minneapolis has a lower cost of living, which helps residents save money.
You can use this cost of living calculator to determine about what you’ll spend when in Minneapolis, but it’s typically around $36,000 per year for a single person with no kids.
Of course, you’ll want to take this number with a grain of salt because it depends on many things such as what you like to do and eat, where you live, and the economy.
When compared to Portland the cost of living here is much lower.
Not Too Big
One of my favorite parts of Minneapolis is that it’s a large city, but it doesn’t always have the huge, huge feel that some other large cities have.
For example, if you were to move to Los Angeles, you would see massive amounts of traffic, large populations, and higher crime.
In Minneapolis, you’ll have all of the perks of a large city with fewer struggles that come with being in a large city.
Cons
Below are some of the worst parts of Minneapolis, because we have to make sure to acknowledge those as well.
Cold Winters
One of the main parts of Minnesota that people dread is the cold, long winters that seem to last forever.
You’ll see cold days between the temperatures of -30 degrees F to 30 degrees F for around 6 months of the year.
Plus, there’s a lot of snow, which can cause issues with driving, traveling places, getting outside, and more.
Although, Minnesotans have gotten really great at preparing for winter and have learned to take advantage of using the snow and cold for fun.
High Crime Rate
Minnesota also has a crime rate that is concerning and makes many people wonder if the city is safe to visit or live in.
The crime rate here in Minneapolis is about 58 people in 1,000 will experience either a violent or property crime.
Property crimes are much more common than violent crimes, although violent crimes do unfortunately happen.
High Taxes
Another thing that Minneapolis has that isn’t ideal is higher taxes, which can sometimes offset the lower costs of living.
Our combined state and local taxes have a rate of 7.49%, according to Tax Foundation.
This is pretty high, especially when we can see that Portland has no sales tax at all.
Minnesota has fairly high taxes on everything from meals to houses to income.
Living in Portland, Oregon Pros & Cons
Just like with Minneapolis, you should consider some of the pros and cons of living in Portland, Oregon before up and moving.
With things like cost of living being so volatile, you should always be aware of these! Here are some of the things to know.
Pros
Below are a few of the very best parts of living in Portland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest.
Access to the Outdoors
One of my favorite parts of living in Portland was the easy access to getting out into the outdoors and enjoying nature.
Within just an hours drive, you can be within places like the Columbia River Gorge, in Mount Hood National Forest, and more.
And just a couple hours away are beautiful places like Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Bachelor, Smith Rock State Park, and so much more.
Casual & Laid Back
Portland, Oregon is a very casual and laid-back city, and is one of the top places for millennials to live, according to Business Insider.
Being such a large outdoor city, you’ll find most of the people wearing clothes that they could easily head out for a hike in.
With Portland’s slogan being ‘Keep Portland Weird,’ you can only guess just how casual and laid-back this PNW city is.
Great Food & Beer Scene
If you’re a foodie and love a good glass of beer, then you’ll love wandering around Portland and checking out its food and beer scene.
There are breweries everywhere you look, delicious food truck areas that have a variety of cuisines, and one of their most popular foods, pizza and donuts.
Whether you’re looking for a high-end luxurious restaurant, or you’re looking for something as simple as a food cart, there’s something for everyone.
Cons
Now that we’ve covered some of the best parts of Portland, it’s also important to look at its worst qualities.
Lots of Rain
While we know that Minneapolis gets dumped on with snow, Portland has similar things happen when it comes to rain.
Portland sees nearly 170 rainy days in a year, which is almost half of the year with rain and little to no sun!
This can do a number on people who love to go outside, or people who love to wake up to the morning sun shining in the curtains.
Houselessness
While it’s sad to discuss, houselessness has long been a big issue in Portland and has continued to increase over the years.
Unfortunately, you’ll see a lot of encampments set up around the city, along the highways, on backroads, and everywhere in between.
Part of the cause for this is the high cost of living and lack of housing for the population within the city.
This can pose a threat to residents’ safety, because while there are many kind houseless people out there, there are also many not so kind, who give the rest a bad reputation.
High Cost of Living
Compared to other areas around the country, the Pacific Northwest has a particularly high cost of living that is hard to grasp.
The cost of everything is higher, especially when comparing Minneapolis vs Portland, from houses to gas to food.
As I mentioned above, the average cost of living in Portland is said to be about 24% higher than the national average, which can really be harmful to the finances of people moving there.
Portland Vs Minneapolis: Which is Better for Families?
If you’re planning to move your family to either Portland or Minneapolis, both places are nice areas to raise a family, but Minneapolis wins.
With its fantastic school system, more affordable housing options, and great places to get outdoors, Minneapolis makes for a great place to live.
Plus, with so many suburban cities on the outskirts of town, you can live just a short distance outside of Minneapolis to experience less traffic and crime.
And when compared to Portland, Minneapolis has a lower crime rate, a lower unemployment rate, and more job opportunities.
Minneapolis Vs Portland: Which is Best for Retirement?
Retirement is an important part in our lives as humans, and deciding the best place to live is a big deal!
If you’re deciding between Portland vs Minneapolis, Portland comes out on top as the best retirement location.
Because of its laid-back city vibes, access to the outdoors, and plentiful places to walk and explore, Portland makes a nice place to retire.
The only major downfall is that it’s more expensive, so it will be harder to live here if you don’t have pretty good savings built up.
Distance From Portland, OR to Minneapolis, MN
If you’re planning to move or travel between these two cities, get prepared for a long drive!
It certainly isn’t a short drive, and I know that well since I’ve driven it multiple times!
You’ll cover nearly 1,800 miles of ground, will drive for about 26 hours, and you’ll switch through two different time zones!
You can plan to take a northern route along I-94 and I-90, which is the fastest and will take about 26 hours and passes through North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.
Or, you can take the southern route along I-90 and I-25 which takes about 30 hours and passes through South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho.
FAQs
As for physical size, Portland is nearly 3 times the size of Minneapolis. Portland is about 145 square miles, while Minneapolis is about 58 square miles. Portland also has a larger population than Minneapolis.
Yes, the cost of living is cheaper in Minneapolis than it is in Portland, Oregon. The cost of living in Oregon is actually quite a bit higher than in Minnesota.
Yes, Portland is more expensive than Minneapolis when it comes to nearly everything. From the cost of housing, food, things to do, gas, and more.
No, Portland is not colder than Minneapolis. Portland has fairly mild winters with rain and snow on the rare occasion, while Minneapolis has harsh winters with a lot of snow and very cold temperatures.
No, Oregon is more expensive than Minneapolis. According to Best Places, Minneapolis is about 20% cheaper than Portland.
Minneapolis is an averagely priced city. It isn’t overly expensive, but it also isn’t insanely cheap.
Yes, although there has been some stigma around Minneapolis, it is a great city to live in a pay a visit to. There are so many great things to do year-round, summers are beautiful, and the cost of living is lower.
Portland is popular because it’s one of the major cities in the Pacific Northwest. It has easy access to beautiful landscapes, hiking, skiing, and outdoor activities.
There are a few cities that are comparable to Minneapolis, and Portland is one. Other comparable cities include St. Paul, Seattle, Winnipeg, and Madison.
Minneapolis isn’t a super wealthy city, but there are certain parts of it that are wealthier than others. But according to USA Today, Minneapolis is one of the few metro areas in the Midwest to rank as a wealthy city.
Yes, these two cities have very similar latitudes, but their climates are very different!
Wrap-Up: Minneapolis Vs. Portland
If you’re trying to decide between living in Minneapolis vs Portland, it can be a tough choice because they’re both such great cities.
Each has its pros and cons, but in the end, they’re both wonderful, and I know it firsthand, as I’ve lived in both Minneapolis and Portland!
From access to the outdoors to great job opportunities to great things to do, whichever you choose, it’s likely that you’ll love it!
