Cost of living index

Grand Forks, ND

86.7 / 100

Living in Grand Forks, ND is 13.3% cheaper than the US average — the #357 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $947/mo

Median home value: $232,900

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Grand Forks, ND metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

19° / 1°F

(-7° / -17°C)

1.7 in precip

Spring

51° / 29°F

(11° / -2°C)

4.9 in precip

Summer

79° / 55°F

(26° / 13°C)

10.1 in precip

Fall

53° / 32°F

(12° / 0°C)

5.1 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from GRAND FORKS INTL AP, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Grand Forks, ND

The Grand Forks, ND metro area has an overall price level of 86.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 13.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 59.7 it is 40.3% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#357 of 387

86.7

Goods#255 of 387

95.6

Housing rents#324 of 387

59.7

Utilities#332 of 387

77.1

Other services#384 of 387

91.4

Grand Forks, ND is moved down the most by housing rents, at 59.7 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

How Grand Forks, ND compares

Other metros in North Dakota

Bismarck, ND91.0 Fargo, ND90.9 Minot, ND87.0

Browse North Dakota →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Grand Forks, ND an expensive place to live?

Grand Forks, ND has an overall cost-of-living index of 86.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 13.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Grand Forks, ND?

Housing rents in Grand Forks, ND score 59.7 against a US average of 100 — roughly 40.3% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Grand Forks, ND compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Grand Forks, ND sit at 86.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 59.7. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.