Where to move from Minnesota
On an $85,000 salary (about the Minnesota median household income) you keep $63,997 after 2026 taxes. 29 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+19.3%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving Minnesota
The ranking starts at about Minnesota's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $85,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+19.3%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +19.3% | +$4,631 | $999 | $69,200 |
| North Dakota | +18.1% | +$4,232 | $980 | $69,700 |
| Mississippi | +16.8% | +$1,963 | $990 | $70,700 |
| Arkansas | +16.7% | +$1,851 | $982 | $70,800 |
| Louisiana | +16.1% | +$2,467 | $1,064 | $71,300 |
| Iowa | +15.9% | +$2,052 | $981 | $71,400 |
| Tennessee | +15.1% | +$4,631 | $1,284 | $72,200 |
| Oklahoma | +14.7% | +$1,351 | $1,044 | $72,300 |
| Wyoming | +14.1% | +$4,631 | $998 | $73,000 |
| Alabama | +13.0% | +$1,114 | $1,077 | $73,800 |
| West Virginia | +13.0% | +$1,627 | $883 | $73,500 |
| Kentucky | +12.3% | +$1,773 | $998 | $74,200 |
| Nebraska | +12.2% | +$1,643 | $1,102 | $74,100 |
| Missouri | +11.4% | +$1,643 | $1,067 | $74,800 |
| Ohio | +11.3% | +$3,062 | $1,090 | $74,900 |
| Kansas | +10.6% | +$687 | $1,079 | $75,400 |
| New Mexico | +9.9% | +$1,797 | $1,117 | $75,900 |
| Texas | +8.9% | +$4,631 | $1,475 | $77,000 |
| North Carolina | +7.4% | +$1,748 | $1,338 | $78,200 |
| South Carolina | +7.4% | +$1,310 | $1,272 | $78,000 |
| Indiana | +6.9% | +$767 | $1,104 | $78,600 |
| Wisconsin | +6.6% | +$1,093 | $1,142 | $78,800 |
| Montana | +6.2% | +$1,189 | $1,177 | $79,100 |
| Nevada | +5.7% | +$4,631 | $1,709 | $79,700 |
| Idaho | +5.2% | +$1,234 | $1,384 | $80,000 |
| Michigan | +4.5% | +$1,269 | $1,168 | $80,700 |
| Georgia | +4.2% | +$1,138 | $1,506 | $81,000 |
| Pennsylvania | +4.1% | +$1,962 | $1,252 | $81,100 |
| Vermont | +2.9% | +$1,481 | $1,319 | $82,100 |
| Alaska | +2.8% | +$4,360 | $1,444 | $82,300 |
| Arizona | +2.4% | +$2,908 | $1,672 | $82,700 |
| Florida | +2.3% | +$4,631 | $1,812 | $82,800 |
| Maine | +1.9% | +$146 | $1,210 | $83,100 |
| New Hampshire | +1.5% | +$4,631 | $1,558 | $83,600 |
| Utah | +1.2% | +$946 | $1,593 | $83,800 |
| Illinois | -0.5% | +$568 | $1,322 | $85,500 |
| Delaware | -1.2% | +$22 | $1,530 | $86,200 |
| Virginia | -1.6% | +$557 | $1,646 | $86,600 |
| Rhode Island | -1.9% | +$1,125 | $1,418 | $86,900 |
| Colorado | -2.5% | +$1,225 | $1,822 | $87,600 |
| Washington | -2.9% | +$3,452 | $1,824 | $87,900 |
| Connecticut | -4.6% | +$131 | $1,550 | $89,900 |
| Massachusetts | -6.5% | +$210 | $1,848 | $91,900 |
| Oregon | -7.3% | -$1,800 | $1,597 | $93,100 |
| New Jersey | -8.2% | +$859 | $1,800 | $94,100 |
| New York | -8.2% | +$270 | $1,634 | $94,000 |
| Maryland | -8.3% | -$1,475 | $1,721 | $94,000 |
| Washington, DC | -9.8% | +$374 | $1,931 | $96,300 |
| Hawaii | -10.9% | -$416 | $1,942 | $97,500 |
| California | -11.1% | -$134 | $2,104 | $98,400 |
Single filer, $85,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where Minnesota residents actually move
Minnesota lost households to other states in every one of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in Minnesota
- Average electric bill
- $110/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.38/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,205/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $448/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Above average (76.7)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
Cities in Minnesota
More about living in Minnesota
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in Minnesota.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median Minnesota home.
Retiring in Minnesota
How Minnesota taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to Minnesota
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from Minnesota to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from Minnesota to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for Minnesota and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in Minnesota by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every Minnesota county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from Minnesota move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were Wisconsin (8,003 households), Florida (4,951 households), Texas (4,294 households).
Is Minnesota gaining or losing residents to other states?
Minnesota had a net loss of 5,106 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave Minnesota?
On an $85,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+19.3%).
Moving to Minnesota instead?
The Moving to Minnesota guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here: