City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Minneapolis split most clearly. Colorado Springs scores 103 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
This is a genuine split. Colorado Springs wins on the job market and safety and Minneapolis wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Minneapolis at $1,371 average has pockets that run $1,171 and others at $1,771: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Minneapolis are 729 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $277 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $3,972 (5%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 303 in Minneapolis, up 103 points (52%).
The move
Minneapolis and Colorado Springs are 729 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $277 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $3,972 (5%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 103 points (34%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 17% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Minneapolis is 17% 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 $3,324, 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 Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 5% higher than Minneapolis
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Minneapolis
$80,846
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Colorado Springs (about $3,972 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
34% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 34% lower than Minneapolis
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Colorado Springs. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Colorado Springs is the easier city. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Colorado Springs and Minneapolis are about even on typical weather.
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Minneapolis (200 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Colorado Springs scores 39/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis. Rent is $1,648/month in Colorado Springs and $1,371/month in Minneapolis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $80,846), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $80,846 in Minneapolis.
Between Colorado Springs and Minneapolis, Colorado Springs is ahead on safety — 39/100 safety versus 26/100. Lean Minneapolis instead when you already know the Minneapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Minneapolis, plus other cities in CO and MN.
