California vs Minnesota: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

Minnesota

High tax burden · COL index 95

Wins 13 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Minnesota's 9.85%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 49% higher than Minnesota (index 95). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Minnesota averages 1.02% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $335K in Minnesota.

California

Minnesota

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.02%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

7.42%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

$790K

Median Home Price

$335K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

286

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

2,094

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

333

475

Homeless / 100K

159

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#2 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.4 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

4.5%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#8 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,450/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$140/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$500/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#7 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+4.0

Category wins

California

Minnesota

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →