Minnesota rent guide
How to Find the Cheapest Place to Rent in Minnesota (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 660 rentals across 68 Minnesota cities
Minnesota is already affordable, so here it is less about leaving an expensive metro and more about picking the right corner of the Twin Cities, or going outstate. The statewide typical rent is about $1,385/mo. Below are the markets where your budget goes furthest right now, straight from live listings, plus five concrete ways to pay less.
Minnesota’s value markets right now
The cheapest cities by typical rent, cheapest first. Click any city to browse and sort by price.
| # | City | Typical | From | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moorhead | $1,125 | $810 | 9 |
| 2 | Brooklyn Park | $1,128 | $990 | 12 |
| 3 | Anoka | $1,145 | $1,024 | 7 |
| 4 | Oakdale | $1,150 | $950 | 7 |
| 5 | Faribault | $1,150 | $1,000 | 5 |
| 6 | Owatonna | $1,190 | $1,025 | 8 |
| 7 | Roseville | $1,195 | $950 | 7 |
| 8 | Elk River | $1,195 | $1,000 | 5 |
| 9 | Fridley | $1,200 | $1,025 | 13 |
| 10 | Richfield | $1,225 | $935 | 13 |
Five ways to pay less for rent in Minnesota
- 1
Go to the outer-ring suburbs
Brooklyn Park, Anoka and Elk River sit well below the affluent west-metro suburbs (Edina, Minnetonka, Woodbury) while keeping you in the Twin Cities.
- 2
Consider an outstate city
Moorhead, Faribault and Owatonna are among the lowest rents in the state. If your job or school is outstate (or remote), that is the single biggest lever on your rent.
- 3
Remember Minneapolis is mid-priced
The city itself often undercuts the wealthy western suburbs, so do not assume the suburbs are always cheaper. Compare both.
- 4
Sort by the "from" price, not the median
The cheapest unit in a building is often hundreds below the city median. Sort low-to-high and check the specific building before you judge a town.
- 5
Time it for winter
Minnesota winters are the soft season for rentals, and many buildings post a free-month or reduced-deposit concession. Save listings and check back so you catch them.
Rankings rebuild from live listings (cities with at least five, no single rooms or senior housing), so they move with the market. Last updated Jun 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest place to rent in Minnesota?
Right now the lowest typical rents are in Moorhead (~$1,125/mo), Brooklyn Park and Anoka. The cheapest places are the outer-ring Twin Cities suburbs and the outstate cities (Moorhead, Faribault, Owatonna), well below the affluent west-metro suburbs.
How can I rent in the Twin Cities without paying west-metro prices?
Head to the outer-ring suburbs. Towns like Brooklyn Park, Anoka and Elk River are well below the affluent western suburbs (Edina, Minnetonka, Woodbury) while keeping you in the metro. Minneapolis proper is also mid-priced, often cheaper than those western suburbs.
Is outstate Minnesota a good deal for renters?
For the smaller cities, yes. Moorhead, Faribault and Owatonna run below the Twin Cities. Rochester and Duluth are the exceptions, where limited supply keeps rents up. If you can be flexible on location, outstate is where the lowest rents are.
How do I actually find the cheapest unit, not just the cheapest city?
Pick a couple of value markets from the list below, open the city page, filter to your bedroom count, and sort by price. The single cheapest unit in a town is often hundreds below its median, so the specific building matters as much as the city. Saving listings and watching them for a week also catches concession deals as they post.
More rent guides
Minnesota · Rankings
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in Minnesota
Every Minnesota city ranked by entry and median rent, from the value outer-ring Twin Cities suburbs and outstate cities to the pricier west-metro suburbs.
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Average Rent in Minnesota by City
What renters actually pay in Minnesota, an affordable Midwest market: median rent in every city we track, by bedroom, from live listings.
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