Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $27,630 in Hennepin County, MN, or $22,370 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Hennepin County, MN: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hennepin County, MN is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Hennepin County, MN is estimated to save $41,929 per year.
Cheaper County
Hennepin County, MNSave about $41,929 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $27,630 in Hennepin County, MN.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Hennepin County, MN. Housing saves $15,375 per year.
Housing: $15,375 lower in Hennepin County, MN
Taxes: $15,286 lower in Hennepin County, MN
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $3,279 lower in Hennepin County, MN
Food: $231 lower in Hennepin County, MN
Transport: $2,913 lower in Hennepin County, MN
San Mateo County, CA→Hennepin County, MN
Equivalent salary in Hennepin County, MN
$27,630
-44.74% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Hennepin County, MN: $131,862
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Hennepin County, MN 39.28%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo County, CA to Hennepin County, MN.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from San Mateo County, CA to Hennepin County, MN is estimated to save $41,929 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $27,630 in Hennepin County, MN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -44.74% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $15,375 per year lower (-50.61%); Taxes is $15,286 per year lower (-61.01%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between San Mateo County, CA and Hennepin County, MN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo County, CA and 39.3% in Hennepin County, MN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $15,375 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hennepin County, MN changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $231 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hennepin County, MN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,913 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Hennepin County, MN.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $3,279 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hennepin County, MN changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,846 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hennepin County, MN help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Mateo County, CA and Hennepin County, MN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hennepin County, MN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $15,286 per year lower in Hennepin County, MN than in San Mateo County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hennepin County, MN matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Hennepin County, MN.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hennepin County, MN
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Hennepin County, MN.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hennepin County, MN
Annual Savings:
$15,375 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hennepin County, MN.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -51% lower | |
| Food | -4% lower | |
| Transport | -20% lower | |
| Healthcare | -44% lower | |
| Other Costs | -44% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -61% lower |
In Hennepin County, MN, modeled annual costs are $51,789 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hennepin County, MN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hennepin County, MN and San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
