Im moving from Michigan to the Twin City area in Minnesota?

Question

Is MN cheaper than MI? are they both the same? what makes them different? whats the cost of living? Hows the college systems ? I woild like feedback asap
Thanks everyone

Answer 1

The cost of living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul is MUCH, MUCH more expensive than Michigan.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Cost of Living Indexes (100=US Average):
Overall 113.9
Food 99.1
Housing 114
Utilities 148.9
Transportation 113.5
Health 129.5
Miscellaneous 108.2

Detroit Cost of Living Indexes (100=US Average):
Overall 94.8
Food 107.5
Housing 81.2
Utilities 96.7
Transportation 103.5
Health 112.6
Miscellaneous 97.5

Difference between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit:
Overall Minneapolis-St. Paul 19.1 HIGHER
Food Minneapolis-St. Paul 8.4 LOWER
Housing Minneapolis-St. Paul 32.8 HIGHER
Utilities Minneapolis-St. Paul 52.2 HIGHER
Transportation Minneapolis-St. Paul 10.0 HIGHER
Health Minneapolis-St. Paul 16.9 HIGHER
Miscellaneous Minneapolis-St. Paul 10.7 HIGHER

Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland Cost of Living Indexes (100=US Average):
Overall 89.7
Food 105.8
Housing 66.7
Utilities 87.5
Transportation 111.5
Health 95.5
Miscellaneous 103.4

Difference between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland:
Overall Minneapolis-St. Paul 24.2 HIGHER
Food Minneapolis-St. Paul 6.7 LOWER
Housing Minneapolis-St. Paul 47.3 HIGHER
Utilities Minneapolis-St. Paul 61.4 HIGHER
Transportation Minneapolis-St. Paul 2.0 HIGHER
Health Minneapolis-St. Paul 34.0 HIGHER
Miscellaneous Minneapolis-St. Paul 4.8 HIGHER

Overall, Minneapolis-St. Paul's cost of living is 20.1% higher than Detroit's and 30.0% higher than Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland's. The only bright spot is that food is a bit less expensive. Housing, utilities, and health costs are the main factors making Minneapolis-St. Paul much more expensive.

Sources:
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=100000&city1=2160&city2=5120
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=100000&city1=3000&city2=5120
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U.S. News and World Reports: America's Best Colleges 2007

Top national universities:
#24 University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (#2 public)
#67 Univ. of Minnesota—Twin Cities (#27 public)
#70 Michigan State University (#30 public)

Sources:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc_pub_brief.php

Times Higher Education Supplement: World University Rankings

#36 University of Michigan
#121 Michigan State University
#150 University of Minnesota

Source:
http://www.alnaja7.org/success/Education/times_world_ranking_2005.pdf

Newsweek: The Complete List: The Top 100 Global Universities

#11 University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
#30 University of Minnesota Twin Cities
#62 Michigan State University

Source:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14321230/site/newsweek/

Looks like Michigan beats out Minnesota in terms of higher education.
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Minneapolis winter temperature averages (high/low):
December 26/11
January 22/4
February 29/12

Detroit winter temperature averages (high/low):
December 38/25
January 33/20
February 36/22

Grand Rapids winter temperature averages (high/low):
December 34/21
January 29/16
February 33/18

Sources:
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0503?from=search
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMI0229?from=search
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMI0344?from=search

Appears than Minnesota is much colder than Michigan in the winter.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul average annual snowfall: 49.9 inches
Detroit average annual snowfall: 41.1 inches
Grand Rapids average annual snowfall: 73.2 inches

Source:
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html

Depending on what area of Michigan you are moving from, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area could be more or less snowy.

Answer 2

I don't know MI all that well but I live outside of "the Cities" (Mpls./St. Paul as people call them here). Some guys where I went to school were from Detroit but that's all I know is thru them.

My guess is, that the Cities are cheaper than metro Detroit. Depends on where you live. If you live in some upscale part of St. Paul, it's more. I don't know the cost of living in Detroit. The Cities are not the cheapest places in the Midwest, but I don't know Detroit. My guess is, a little bit cheaper but not really cheaper.

What is different about MN is the attitude of people. 90% of everybody is really nice in everyday life. It's one of the best places as to this. Not much hidden racial/ethic tension between groups of people at all. Mpls. and St. Paul are becoming more ethnically diverse - the composition of people has been changing fast since like the '90's or so. My experience has been, the basic friendliness extends across everyone and everybody. Drivers are usually realtively considerate of other drivers. "Minnesota nice" does sort of exist.

The college systems in Minnesota are outstanding compared to most states. Even "the U" (Univ. of Minn.) is I thought not all that expensive compared to other big state universities in other states. Also the state universities are good academically. In or within 70 miles of the Mpls./St.Paul area there's also a good 8 or 10 private universities too.

Detroit probably gets more snow than the Cities but it's colder in the Cities.

Answer 3

Almost everything in Mn will be cheaper without high buck auto workers driving up the cost of living.

Answer 4

Michigan has one of the lowest cost of livings in the country. I hear the schools are pretty decent, but no UofM.