If you've been living in California for a while, that question probably feels rhetorical. The honest answer is more than you'd expect.

California has incredible weather and incredible culture, but the cost of staying there has reached a point where it's genuinely difficult for a lot of people to build financial stability. The Twin Cities offer a real alternative — a major metro with strong culture, good food, and actual neighborhoods, at a fraction of what you're paying now.

This guide breaks down what the move looks like financially, where California transplants tend to land, and how to navigate buying a home from out of state