Cost of Living in Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
90.8
U.S. average = 100 · #275 of 387
Median wage
$60,620
all jobs · $4,024/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,124
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Rochester, MN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Rochester, MN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.8 | −9.2% |
| Housing | 78.6 | −21.4% |
| Goods | 95.4 | −4.6% |
| Utilities | 87.4 | −12.6% |
| Other services | 92.2 | −7.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Rochester, MN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,057 | $42,280/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,124 | $44,960/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,332 | $53,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,843 | $73,720/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,203 | $88,120/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Rochester, MN
Your take-home pay
$48,289
per year · effective tax rate 20.3%
$4,024Monthly
$2,012Twice a month
$1,857Every 2 weeks
$23.22Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,094
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,758
- Medicare (1.45%)$879
- Minnesota income tax$2,599
- Take-home pay$48,289
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in Rochester, MN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rochester, MN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Rochester, MN metro area are 90.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 78.6%. It is the #275 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Rochester, MN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,493 in Rochester, MN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $60,620.
How much is rent in Rochester, MN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Rochester, MN are $1,057 for a studio, $1,124 for one bedroom, $1,332 for two bedrooms and $1,843 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Rochester, MN
Management Occupations
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $131,110
- General and Operations Manager — $85,650
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $108,560
- Project Management Specialist — $106,270
- Accountant and Auditor — $83,960
- Human Resources Specialist — $83,810
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $78,790
- Training and Development Specialist — $76,030
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $134,450
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $75,770
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $72,790
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $42,750
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $41,250
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $164,250
- Physician Assistant — $137,340
- Nurse Practitioner — $126,270
- Registered Nurse — $101,660
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,330
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,750
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $49,830
- Nursing Assistant — $46,840
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $39,270
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $47,790
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,150
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,630
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,190
- Bartender — $27,000
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,060
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $45,550
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $44,030
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $36,860
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $34,510
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $72,210
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $67,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,350
- Retail Salesperson — $36,000
- Cashier — $34,960
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $72,940
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $67,390
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $58,350
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $52,890
- Office Clerks, General — $48,810
- Customer Service Representative — $47,050
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $99,530
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $84,880
- Electrician — $79,650
- Carpenter — $63,610
- Construction Laborer — $59,390
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $54,060
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $49,920
Production Occupations
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $60,380
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,740
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,180
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,660
- Light Truck Driver — $47,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,360
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,770
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,170