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Minneapolis vs Tokyo

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Minneapolis, MN vs Tokyo, JP at a glance — Tokyo, JP is 4% more expensive than Minneapolis, MN overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $1,300/mo versus $1,450/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 37%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Tokyo, JP, you'd need

$77,795 / year

Tokyo, JP is 4% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Tokyo, JP vs Minneapolis, MN)

  • Housing+12%
  • Food & groceries+4%
  • Transport-13%
  • Utilities+20%
  • Healthcare-19%
  • Goods & services+3%

◎ How Minneapolis, MN and Tokyo, JP compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Minneapolis, MNTokyo, JP

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Minneapolis, MNTokyo, JP
Cost of living
Overall cost index104108
Housing109122
Food101105
Transport10390
Utilities96115
Healthcare10585
Goods & services103106
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,450/mo$1,300/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$2,600/mo$2,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$3,800$11,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$960$926
Inexpensive meal$18$8
Monthly transit pass$96$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%45%
VAT / sales tax0%10%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%30%
Capital gains20%20.3%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$2,600/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$1,300/mo
GDP per capita$90,027✓$35,951✓
Inflation (annual)—3.2%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyNativeLow
Coworking spaces4090
Time zoneUTC-6UTC+9
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6581
Safety index5582
Healthcare index8285
Pollution index3545
Internet speed200 Mbps220 Mbps
Walkability7092
Public transport5898
Family-friendly7072
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$40/mo
Life expectancy79 yr✓84 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Climate
January avg-8 °C+6 °C
July avg+23 °C+27 °C
Sunny days / year198130
Rainfall / year800 mm1,520 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs Japan. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Minneapolis vs Tokyo — in your currency

MinneapolisTokyo
1-bed rent, city centre$1,450$1,300
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,150$900
Inexpensive meal$18$8
Monthly transit pass$96$90
Utilities (monthly)$160$200

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Minneapolis

High quality of life, strong jobs and lakes everywhere — winters are seriously cold.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-6
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
55/100
Climate
❄ -8°C · ☀ 23°C · 198 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
North Loop · Uptown · Northeast

Good to know before you move to Tokyo

Astonishingly safe, clean and well-connected for a megacity — and, thanks to a weak yen, cheaper than most Western capitals right now.

Currency
Japanese yen (¥ JPY)
Languages
Japanese
Time zone
UTC+9
Internet
220 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
82/100
Climate
❄ 6°C · ☀ 27°C · 130 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 100V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Shibuya · Shinjuku · Setagaya

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Minneapolis to Tokyo: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Minneapolis to Tokyo, your cost of living will be roughly 4% more expensive. Tokyo’s cost-of-living index is 108 versus 104 for Minneapolis (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Minneapolis cheaper than Tokyo?

Tokyo is about 4% more expensive than Minneapolis overall — its cost-of-living index is 108 versus 104 for Minneapolis.

Which is more expensive, Minneapolis or Tokyo?

Tokyo is more expensive than Minneapolis. Its cost-of-living index is 108 vs 104 (US = 100) — about 4% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Minneapolis or Tokyo?

Rent is cheaper in Tokyo — about $1,300/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,450 in Minneapolis.

How much do you need to earn in Tokyo to live like in Minneapolis?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Minneapolis is worth about $77,795 in Tokyo. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Tokyo?

United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in Japan.

◷ More comparisons from Minneapolis

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.