City comparison
No. Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
The income gap between Kansas City and Minneapolis is significant: $69,166 median household versus $80,846. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Kansas City costs less and Minneapolis pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Kansas City and Minneapolis are 412 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $133 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $11,680 (17%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 303 in Minneapolis, down 40 points (12%).
The move
Minneapolis and Kansas City are 412 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $133 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $11,680 (14%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 343 in Kansas City, up 40 points (13%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 10% cheaper than Minneapolis
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Kansas City is 10% 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 $1,596, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Minneapolis.
Planning to buy in Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 17% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Minneapolis (about $11,680 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Minneapolis is the stronger labor market on paper. Kansas City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Minneapolis's crime index is 12% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
Winner303 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Minneapolis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Minneapolis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Kansas City. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 11% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°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. Kansas City scores 11% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Minneapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Kansas City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 11%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Kansas City is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Minneapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Kansas City (303 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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Minneapolis median income is $80,846 versus $69,166 in Kansas City (14% higher). Rent still runs $1,371/month in Minneapolis and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Minneapolis rates.
With only $133 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Pick Minneapolis when your field pays toward $80,846 median income. Otherwise, Kansas City's case rests on a $1,238 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Minneapolis, plus other cities in MO and MN.
