Living on $25,000 in Minneapolis? (apartments, rent, health insurance)

[s___]

Hi there

I am thinking about relocating from London, UK to Minneapolis to take up a job in the arts. I need some advice on the average monthly living costs in Minneapolis (rent, utilities, food, travel). I will be earning $25,000/year, is this a reasonable wage in the city for a single individual who doesn't drive? I assume i shall be living a pretty basic/student lifestyle but would like to know if it is financially workable?

I have to make a decision on the position pretty soon so would appreciate your responses. This will be my first time living in the US so it's a very big move indeed.

Many Thanks

S.

[golfgal]

That is considered poverty level here. At that income you would qualify for a lot of government assistance. It would be next to impossible to survive on that income in Minneapolis unless you were able to find several roommates and could get your rent under $300/year.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

If you're frugal you can live off that no problem.

[Laggard]

I think you could do it. You're not living well but you won't be sleeping under a bridge either.

[s___]

do you guys have some ball park figures on average monthly rent, utilities, food etc....just to get things into perspective...

thanks

S.

[Thegonagle]

I believe that's going to be roughly $1500 per month take home.

If you're careful, and your wants and desires are simple, you should be able to manage it, especially without a car to maintain and insure.

Look at a studio/small 1 bedroom apartment in the Stevens Square or Loring Park, Whittier, Wedge, and Seward neighborhoods. You won't need a car in those neighborhoods as transit tends to be frequent and reasonably well connected.

Loring and Stevens have the highest concentration of 1 bedroom and studio apartments, with Stevens having the lower average rent between the two. I'd actually prefer to live in one of the other three neighborhoods, because there are more places to buy food within walking distance, but finding a suitable, affordable, decent place to live may be more of a challenge--they're worth looking at though.

[uptown_urbanist]

Assuming your job comes with some kind of health insurance, yes, you can definitely live off of that wage and still enjoy life.

Rent... you could go with a roommate, otherwise can still find a studio in a nice area for less than $600. A monthly bus pass is $85. Utilities will vary; many times heat is included in the rent in the older buildings, and heat is the most expensive. Food can vary a lot, too. Check out the websites for Rainbow Foods or Cub Foods (two of the larger, more affordable local supermarket chains) and browse their online ads for a sense of some of the costs. Places like Target now have some food, too.

And you won't be eligible for government assistance on that wage. (other than possibly obtaining subsidized health care through MinnesotaCare if your work doesn't offer it). You will not be poverty level, or anywhere near poverty level.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

You will not be poverty level, or anywhere near poverty level.

Correct.

2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines

2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines Persons
in Family 48 Contiguous
States and D.C. Alaska Hawaii
1 $10,890 $13,600 $12,540
2 14,710 18,380 16,930
3 18,530 23,160 21,320
4 22,350 27,940 25,710
5 26,170 32,720 30,100
6 29,990 37,500 34,490
7 33,810 42,280 38,880
8 37,630 47,060 43,270
For each additional person, add
3,820 4,780 4,390

[Laggard]

Crunching numbers you really should be ok. You should be able to do rent/utilities/transportation for under $1000/monthly. Food costs whatever you want it to cost.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by golfgal

That is considered poverty level here. At that income you would qualify for a lot of government assistance.

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

And you won't be eligible for government assistance on that wage. (other than possibly obtaining subsidized health care through MinnesotaCare if your work doesn't offer it). You will not be poverty level, or anywhere near poverty level.

What uptown_urbanist said.....

Federal Poverty level for a single person in 2011 is $10,890.

I think one MN assistance program allows people to make 200% of poverty level, but $25,000/year is above 200%. Most are cut off much lower as far as I know.