Cost of Living
You've thought about how much money you want. But do you know how much money you NEED?
"Cost of living" is what you pay for necessities, such as food, housing, transportation, health care, child care, taxes, and other necessities.
Your cost of living most likely will change within the next five or 10 years. You might move from an apartment to a house. Or you might have to start — or stop — paying child support. All of these things affect how much money you need on a monthly or yearly basis.
The table below shows the basic-needs cost of living in Minnesota for different family sizes. This cost includes basic child care, food, health care, housing, transportation, and income taxes. The cost of living does vary depending upon where in the state you live. Living in the Twin Cities Metro area is more expensive than other areas in Minnesota.
| Family Size | Combined Hours of Work | Yearly Cost of Living | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | $30,900 | $14.86 | |
| One adult and one child | 40 | $54,108 | $26.01 |
| One adult and two children | 40 | $79,560 | $38.25 |
| Two adults and one child | 60 | $55,548 | $17.80 |
| Two adults and two children | 80 | $86,124 | $20.70 |
When you choose a career, compare the salary with your cost of living. This will help you choose jobs that meet your family's needs.
Lifestyle Choices
Think about how much money you want to spend in categories such as housing, clothing, and entertainment. For example, do you plan to have a small budget for food and groceries, and eat at home most of the time? Or do you plan to eat out a lot, which is more expensive? How you choose to spend your money affects how much you need to make.
Next Steps:
- Find out how to make a budget.
- What's the difference between a job and a career? Can you make more money?
- Learn how formal education pays off
Other Resources
- Use the Reality Check Tool to see how lifestyle choices affect your budget.
- Cost of Living in Minnesota will help you find the cost of living for your family size where you want to live.
Source: Cost of Living 2019, Department of Employment and Economic Development
