Can You Still Travel on a Budget? We Tried 70 Dollars a Day in Minneapolis
Travel prices are up everywhere, and many folks feel the days of budget-friendly exploring are gone. We wanted to test that narrative in Minneapolis with our $70-per-person challenge: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, tax and tip included. Could we discover local flavor and a little culture while still staying under the cap? Spoiler: we did, and you can too. Check out our full series of Cheap Eats challenges HERE.
Cheap Eats Minneapolis $70 A Day Challenge
The Rules
$70 per person for the entire day
Four food stops: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner
Tax and tip included in every total
Bonus: sprinkle in free or low-cost sights to walk it off
Breakfast: Scramblin’ Egg (Build-Your-Own Wins)
We kicked off with a tiny local gem that started as a food truck and now slings made-to-order breakfast burritos, bowls, and sandwiches at a takeout window.
Standouts: a massive bacon breakfast burrito with rice that just works, a house-made sausage egg sandwich, and Cinna-Minis (cinnamon-dusted mini pancakes) with real maple syrup.
Verdict: Hearty, fast, flavorful. Perfect fuel for the day.
Spend:
Person A: $13.66 (after tax & tip)
Person B: $18.36 (after tax & tip)
Free Sights Between Bites
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry plus interactive pieces.
Mary Tyler Moore Statue – TV history right downtown.
Prince Mural – towering tribute to a Minnesota legend.
Skyway System – nine miles of climate-proof walkways linking downtown buildings.
These stops cost $0, add a ton of local color, and make room for lunch.
Lunch: Mama Safia’s Kitchen (Somali Comfort Food)
Minneapolis is home to a large Somali community and that means incredible East African cooking. We dove into biryani rice plates with barbecue chicken or steak and shared crisp, beef-filled sambusas. Warm spice, not too spicy—think cumin, coriander, cardamom. Portions are huge and prices are friendly.
Spend (each): $24.84 (entrée + sambusa, after tax & tip)
Snack at Mall of America (Nostalgia + Value)
Walk off lunch at the largest mall in the country and pick a treat without wrecking the budget.
Opa Sweets cotton candy characters (hello, Pikachu) – fun, shareable, and mall-perfect.
Mr. Waffle Dessert taiyaki (fish-shaped waffle) with warm custard – fresh, simple, and affordable.
Spend:
Person A: ~$13 for cotton candy (after tax & tip)
Person B: $5 for custard taiyaki (all-in)
Bonus: Nickelodeon Universe is a blast to window-shop even if you skip rides. You can buy a few coupons à la carte if you want just one coaster.
Dinner: The Jucy Lucy Showdown (Matt’s Bar vs The 5-8 Club)
Minneapolis classic: a burger stuffed with molten cheese. Two OGs claim it.
Matt’s Bar – The original “Jucy Lucy” (no “i”).
Double-patty feel, griddled char, American cheese lava, pickles, grilled onions.
Pro tip: small bites until the steam vents.
The 5-8 Club – “Juicy Lucy” with sides, seasoned patty, and the upgrade path.
We learned a “Jojo” is a thick-cut steak fry. Add cheese on top if you dare.
Spend:
Person A at Matt’s Bar: enters dinner with about $18.20 and leaves with a little over $4 remaining → dinner ~$14.20 all-in
Person B at The 5-8 Club: $20.87 all-in (with Jojo upgrade), leaves $0.93 to spare
Which is better? It is close. Matt’s has that smoky flat-top charm and dramatic cheese ooze; 5-8 brings seasoning, sides, and a slightly looser patty. Try both and decide your team.
Budget Scorecard (Tax + Tip Included)
Person A (the cotton-candy route)
Breakfast: $13.66
Lunch: $24.84
Snack: ~$13.00
Dinner: ~$14.20
Total: ~$65.70 → ~$4.30 left
Person B (the taiyaki + Jojo upgrade route)
Breakfast: $18.36
Lunch: $24.84
Snack: $5.00
Dinner: $20.87
Total: $69.07 → $0.93 left
Result: Both stayed under $70 for a full day of eats, tips and tax included.
How To Recreate This Day On Any Budget
Start local and made-to-order. Breakfast spots with customizable menus deliver value and size.
Plan free cultural breaks. Public art, murals, and walkable icons reset your appetite and stretch your dollars.
Anchor lunch in a community cuisine. Somali restaurants here offer flavor + portions that travel budgets love.
Snack smart in a big attraction. Pick one fun treat, then enjoy the atmosphere for free.
Finish with a signature classic. In Minneapolis, that is the Jucy/Juicy Lucy. You get dinner and a story.
Final Take
Travel is pricier than it used to be, but intentional choices still win. Minneapolis gave us a day packed with local flavor, culture, and pure nostalgia without breaking $70. If you are craving a doable food adventure, this city proves the point: budget travel is alive when you plan with purpose.
Got a city we should tackle next for $70 a day? Drop it in the comments. And if you want the full play-by-play with reactions, subscribe and join our Random Fandom for bonus perks. It is recess time.