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I haven’t lived there but I did travel for work a lot (my client was General Mills). From people I know there, Minneapolis is very provincial— most people are from there, have friends from high school and college. The people who moved there for a job (especially people who moved there single), REALLY struggled to make friends. There is a joke: “Minnesotans are so nice. They will give you directions anywhere you want to go… except to their house.” That said— the north loop area is very hip, the restaurant scene is great, tons of great coffee shops, great outdoor culture (you learn to embrace the cold).
You definitely need a car. And a charm offensive.
This is 100 percent true. I lived in Chicago - then moved to MN for a job in my early 30s and found it impossible to meet friends. It was miserable. Do not recommend moving there if you’re single and over roughly the age of 25. It is super difficult to break into the community.
Rising Star
More Fortune 500 companies than Chicago, if true, doesn’t mean much if you’re comparing the ad agencies and their work. Heard they have a cool bridge city downtown though to connect everything. Especially when it’s -100.
By the way, is that link for a different question?
You must have a car. There is dramatically less stuff going on than in Chicago. Ever since the pandemic downtown has been a ghost town. Having said all of that, it’s a very nice place that is very much a real city, and in my opinion it’s the top “tier 2” city in the Midwest by a decent margin.
I grew up there, and frequently visit family still. Super sophisticated community- great arts scene especially. Much more scenic in the suburbs that Chicago. Nowhere close to the downtown vibe that Chicago has, but still really enjoyable and classy. Great place to raise a family. Winters blow Chicago away. Crystal clear and beautiful. But, if you can't handle a full 15 degrees below average Chicago temps, don't even bother.
Lived in Winona/Rochester and did business in the cities.
Overall I thought the cities where great, and of all the places I lived; Minnesota is one of the places I’d move back to. BUT Chicago’s always calling me home.
You will definitely need a car, but that seems to be changing. Culture is Minnesota nice. Minnesota nice is often extreme sarcasm, with kindness sprinkled in. The old adage of “treat people the way you want to be treated” definitely holds true throughout the state.
Good luck!
I lived and worked there for about 10 years and loved it. Definitely need a car if you work downtown Mpls and live anywhere other than Mpls. They do have decent bus system, but nothing like Chicago. Uber is plentiful, so maybe wouldn’t need a car right away, depending on work situation (WFH/in office).
Def more F500 per capita: Target, Best Buy, General Mills, US Bank, a few hospitals
Probably depends on your age, what you’re looking for, where you will work, and where you want to live, to see if this is a good fit or not
We moved from MN to Chicago and I miss it every day. Definitely is a different lifestyle and vibe, but i would go back in a heartbeat. Yes, definitely need a car though! There are more theater seats per capita in mn than in any city besides ny, the restaurant scene is amazing, and great outdoor activities. Happy to dm if you have any questions!
Hi WM1...
Prefacing this with I made an employer change because I know WM didn't have a geo premium for MN 😂
I recently did Chicago to Twin Cities.
25% pay increase and my cost is living is like 30% lower.
No way to live up here without a car in my opinion, so I bought one before moving.
Have been surprised that the food here is very solid. Was one of my biggest fears.
But I still deeply miss Chicago at the same time
It’s a fantastic place to live if you don’t mind the cold. Great food, coffee, beer, etc. Lots of great hikes. Pretty affordable. Pre-pandemic you could live downtown and didn’t need a car, but I’ve heard that’s changed since the George Floyd protests and covid
You absolutely need a car. I couldn't take the cold anymore, and the winters are so depressing. My family is in Minnesota, but I still don't really see myself ever going back. In my industry, the pay isn't as good and there just isn't as much sofisticated work. It's definitely true that people are not as welcoming to transplants. But there is tons of great outdoor space if that appeals to you.
I moved from living in the Chicago area my whole life to Minnesota for one year after college and really struggled to adjust. I didn’t have a car and had trouble getting around. It has a lot of great outdoorsy type stuff to do and breweries compared to Chicago but lacked in everything else, in my opinion.