Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MN and Salem, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MN and Salem, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,870 in Rochester, MN versus $2,672 in Salem, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,053 in Rochester, MN versus $3,820 in Salem, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,236 in Rochester, MN versus $4,967 in Salem, OR.

Living in Rochester, MN is roughly 7% more expensive than Salem, OR, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rochester, MN 114% above, Salem, OR 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.12 $16.12

$17.58 $17.58

-8.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$91.0 $91.0

-16.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$9.80 $9.80

13.16%

Cappuccino

$6.21 $6.21

$4.53 $4.53

37.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.61 $2.61

0.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.95 $1.95

17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.84 $4.84

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.11 $7.11

-1.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.07 $1.07

-11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.84 $3.84

-35.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.82 $3.82

-41.62%

Eggs

$3.68 $3.68

$4.74 $4.74

-22.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 $12.69

$17.37 $17.37

-26.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.24 $13.24

-10.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$16.26 $16.26

2.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.26 $4.26

7.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.49 $1.49

4.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.78 $3.78

-0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.71 $3.71

-7.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.12 $2.12

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.10 $2.10

44.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.99 $1.99

52.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.74 $1.74

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$10.39 $10.39

-12.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.73 $13.73

8.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.69 $1.69

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.03 $3.03

0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.67 $1.67

16.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 $41.95

$40.63 $40.63

3.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.48 $3.48

-43.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.26 $1.26

69.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.33 $20.33

$39.73 $39.73

-48.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.04 $1.04

-20.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.6K $27.6K

-7.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K $24.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

-3.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$128 $128

$274 $274

-53.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.7 $50.7

$54.7 $54.7

-7.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$78.1 $78.1

-21.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$53.6 $53.6

29.33%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 $12.45

$12.85 $12.85

-3.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$1,284 $1,284

6.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K $11.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

-49.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 $64.4

$45.30 $45.30

42.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 $63.5

$53.3 $53.3

19.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 $71.7

$85.3 $85.3

-15.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 $83.4

$78.7 $78.7

6.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 $1,454

$1,550 $1,550

-6.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$1,379 $1,379

20.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,038 $2,038

$2,838 $2,838

-28.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 $2,674

$2,111 $2,111

26.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 $2,061

$2,976 $2,976

-30.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 $2,090

$3,013 $3,013

-30.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,671 $4,671

$3,755 $3,755

24.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.55

-2.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rochester, MN: April 20, 2026

Last update for Salem, OR: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,454 in Rochester, MN and $1,550 in Salem, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rochester, MN pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76 in Rochester, MN vs $91 in Salem, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $396 per month, with Rochester, MN cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Rochester, MN vs Salem, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salem, OR wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Rochester, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Salem, OR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Rochester, MN pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,454 in Rochester, MN versus $1,550 in Salem, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Rochester, MN pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Salem, OR – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $76.0 in Rochester, MN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,672 in Salem, OR versus $2,870 in Rochester, MN, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Salem, OR but tight or insufficient in Rochester, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Salem, OR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Salem, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Rochester, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.