Minneapolis is better than Anaheim in many ways. It has a strong job market, is also affordable, and has good infrastructure. Anaheim is fun, but it is an expensive city.
The best way about Minneapolis is not their craft beer. Plus, the food in Minneapolis is also out of this world.
It is just delicious.
But aside from craft beer and delicious food, Minneapolis has a strong economy, a stable job market, and excellent infrastructure that makes it an ideal metro to live in.
And hey, out of the most populated metropolitan cities in the country, Minneapolis is one of the most affordable.
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What are the pros and cons of Anaheim vs. Minneapolis?
Minneapolis boasts of a stable job market for its residents. It also has an impressive infrastructure. And for a big city, it is cheap. Anaheim is bike-friendly. Also, it has better air quality (at least compared to LA).
Anaheim is also a lovely city. And yes, you can move there if you want to.
But between the two cities, Minneapolis is better.
The thing about Minneapolis, though, is its taxes. And the weather here can be harsh.
Anaheim Living
Gear up and get that bike out because Anaheim is bike-friendly. Plus, the air quality here is much better.
Pros
You will love it here in Anaheim. Here are the reasons why.
- Bike-Friendly
- Parking Lots!
- Air Quality
Recently, Anaheim cashed out many of its funds to get the city bike-friendly. It is so you can get around town by riding your bike.
You never have to rely on other modes of transport anymore.
And what is more important is that you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. You can even help in slowing down global warming.
As such, there is no need for you to have a car!
All you have to do is to ride your bike or scooter. You can save your money in the long run.
Most of the time, you will not have problems with traffic here (although, I should say traffic can be bad when tourists surge).
But when traffic is fine, you will also find it easy to find parking lots in Anaheim.
Go to San Diego or any other major US city, and you will find it hard to find parking lots.
In Anaheim, you get to have better air quality compared to LA or other major metros in the US.
And yes, because of better air quality, you minimize the risks of severe pulmonary issues. You also get to reduce other health issues in the long run.
Cons
Well, not everything in Anaheim is that good.
Here, we talk about a few concerns.
- The Tourists
- Property Prices and Rent
Anaheim is a touristy place.
Disneyland calls this city home. And so, every year, you will find millions of tourists flocking to the city.
Tourists can be good for the economy. Plus, it provides jobs for the residents.
But one thing you have to live with is overcrowding. Tourists tend to crowd the city. They can also cause traffic and, sometimes, an imbalance in supply and demand.
Anaheim is in California.
Naturally, the cost of living can be high.
Out of the many in your budget, the cost of rent and housing takes up a big chunk. These commodities increased in prices over the past years.
If the spike continues, only the richest of the rich can afford to live here.
Minneapolis Living
An affordable cost of living in a big city can be a dream. But yes, you can have that dream here in Minneapolis.
Pros
Living in Minneapolis is unbelievable. Here are the reasons why.
- The Cost of Living
- The Job Market
- Good Infrastructure
Out of the most populated cities in the US, Minneapolis ranks high in affordability.
As per studies, the city’s residents spend about 21% of their household income. Such spending provides extra funds for other needs.
The cost of living here is low. And because it is low, residents can have more savings from their earnings.
Did you know that Target is in Minneapolis?
Yes, it is. Thousands of Minneapolis residents work here. And not only that, but Target is the largest employer in the city.
The second-largest employer in the city is Hennepin Healthcare.
Aside from these two, the finance industry is also doing well here.
Companies like Wells Fargo, US Bank, and Ameriprise Financial call Minneapolis home.
More Fortune 500 companies in the city provide jobs to their residents. And this is an advantage you should not miss.
Living in Minneapolis is convenient.
The infrastructures are all well-maintained.
Let us start with the well-designed highway network. This highway helps maintain the steady traffic flow in and around the city.
Minneapolis also has a major international airport. The airport is close to downtown and offers cheap flights to local and international destinations.
Not only that, but Minneapolis also has well-managed hospitals.
Mayo Clinic is in the area. And during winter, the city makes sure to deploy plows at first sight of snow.
We know Minneapolis as having harsh winters. But snow is rarely a problem here.
Cons
Now, let us proceed.
What things should concern you in Minneapolis?
- The Weather
- Taxes
Okay.
So, Minneapolis is famous for its cold weather. And you would probably say, how hard?
Well, Minneapolis is one of the coldest cities on the planet. It is even colder than famous countries like Moscow and Anchorage.
The city can sometimes be 20 or even 30 degrees below zero. And these days can be challenging, especially if you are not a fan of the cold.
Usually, what sticks to mind is that the state has a 0% tax on clothes.
But that is where your happiness ends.
Minnesota is not a state you can escape from when it comes to taxes. And the city of Minneapolis is heavy in taxing its residents.
Two of the highest taxes are income tax and meal tax.
On average, income tax averages at 7.05%. And this is the most common income tax rate in the city.
Sometimes, it can go down to 5.35%, or it can also go up to as much as 9.85%.
What astounds most people is the meal tax which is at 10.78%.
The city has one of the highest meal taxes in the country. Or yes, this can even be the highest for all we know.
Aside from these two, other high tax categories are sales tax, vehicle registration, and property tax.
The cost of living here is low. That is a given.
But if you get bad days just thinking about taxes, you might want to reconsider moving here.
Minneapolis or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
Compared to Anaheim, Minneapolis is cheaper overall. It is higher than 6.5% (national average). On the other hand, Anaheim is 52.2% more expensive than the national average. Minneapolis is more affordable.
| Living Expenses | Anaheim | Minneapolis |
| Housing | 257.1 | 117.1 |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5 | 101.2 |
| Health | 95.9 | 78.5 |
| Utilities | 97.4 | 99.7 |
| Transportation | 118 | 108.5 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Rent / Housing
Compared to its neighbors in California, Anaheim is cheaper. But when you compare Anaheim with cities from other states.
The culprit that pulls the costs up is the cost of housing and rent.
Anaheim has one of the country’s most expensive housing and rental costs.
It is, in fact, 100% more expensive than the national average. And this speaks loads about how expensive it is.
On the other hand, housing costs in Minneapolis are also expensive. But these are not as expensive as Anaheim.
Minneapolis is only 17.1% more expensive than the national average.
Utility Costs
The cost of utilities is cheaper in Anaheim.
Compared to the national average, utility costs in Anaheim are about 2.6% cheaper. On the other hand, Minneapolis is more affordable than the national average by only 0.3%.
These numbers show that Anaheim is cheaper than Minneapolis in utilities by 2.3%.
Such numbers, however, are insignificant, especially when deciding on where to move.
Utilities can cover your electricity, heating, garbage disposal, and internet costs. Overall, it depends on your consumption.
But for purposes of discussion, Anaheim is cheaper.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries are cheaper in Minneapolis than in Anaheim.
The difference, however, is not that significant.
In Anaheim, food and groceries are 2.5% more expensive than the national average. In Minneapolis, it is 1.2% more expensive.
These numbers make Minneapolis cheaper in terms of food and groceries.
However, if you look at the 1.3% difference, it may not amount to much. But over time, it can accumulate.
Also, this can amount to much if you move in with your family.
Transportation Costs
Transportation costs are more expensive in Anaheim.
It is 18% more expensive than the national average.
Now, compare the number with that of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis may be more expensive than the national average, but it is only 8.5% more expensive. There is an immeasurable difference between these cities in their transportation costs, with Minneapolis being on the positive side.
Aside from the transportation costs, also note that public transport in Anaheim is not the best there is.
The traffic here can also be unacceptable at times.
Healthcare
The cost of healthcare is cheaper in Minneapolis.
Compared to the national average, Minneapolis is 21.5% cheaper. On the other hand, Anaheim is 4.1% more affordable than the US national average.
This difference puts those that move to Minneapolis at an advantage.
Healthcare is a crucial aspect of your budget.
This cost will include a doctor’s visit and the cost of your medicines as well for common colds, flu, and the like.
Is Minneapolis bigger than Anaheim?
Minneapolis is larger in land area than Anaheim. Anaheim is at 50.3 square miles, while Minneapolis has a land area of 57.51 square miles.
And as mentioned earlier, Minneapolis is one of the country’s most populated cities.
It is safe to say that Minneapolis is larger than Anaheim in population.
Anaheim has a population of 349,000, while Minneapolis will have a population of 2.9 million by the end of 2021.
It should also follow that Minneapolis is denser in population, with a population density of 8,217 people per square mile.
Anaheim is less dense, with 3,832 people per square mile.
Is Minneapolis safer than Anaheim?
Minneapolis has more crimes than Anaheim. This fact should follow since Minneapolis is more populated than Anaheim. However, for a populated city, the crime index in Minneapolis is low at 55.06%.
When you look at the crime index, you could easily say that Minneapolis has more crimes than Anaheim.
And yes, this should be a known fact since Minneapolis is one of the most populated cities in the country.
But for a city with an almost 3 million population, a crime index of 55.06% is low.
You would expect that such a populous city can have a crime index reaching the 70s. But Minneapolis is only at 55.06%.
Comparing the two cities, Anaheim has a lower crime index, but the difference is not that huge.
Anaheim has a 53.24% crime index.
While Anaheim has fewer crimes, the city still sees more car theft incidents than Minneapolis. Such a crime has a 55.26% possibility in Anaheim, higher than 43.75% in Minneapolis.
Such is also true when it comes to corruption and bribery.
Possibilities for corruption and bribery reach a high mark of 61.11% in Anaheim. In Minneapolis, it is only 47.43%.
Is Anaheim better than Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is better than Anaheim. The strong job market in Minneapolis is reason enough. Add to this is the lower cost of living in the city. And since Minneapolis has good infrastructure, living here is more convenient.
Life in Minneapolis is easier. It is also more convenient.
Let us start with the job market.
There are more Fortune500 companies in Minneapolis than the residents could ask for. Such companies that call Minneapolis home provide their residents with job opportunities that may not be available in Anaheim.
True, Anaheim has Disneyland. Anaheim, at some point, also has job opportunities.
But there are more jobs in Minneapolis than in Anaheim.
Also, let’s not even get to the cost of living.
The difference between the two cities in their overall cost of living is glaring.
Anaheim is more expensive than Minneapolis. And with such a difference, you can surely save more of your income when you are in Minneapolis.
Just watch out for the taxes.
If you ask me which one I choose, it would be Minneapolis.
How about you?
