Cost of Living in Grand Forks, ND
Grand Forks, ND-MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Grand Forks, ND to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Grand Forks, ND?
With a price level of 86.7 (U.S. average = 100), Grand Forks, ND is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 40% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 23% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 9% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Grand Forks, ND vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.7 | −13.3% |
| Housing | 59.7 | −40.3% |
| Goods | 95.6 | −4.4% |
| Utilities | 77.1 | −22.9% |
| Other services | 91.4 | −8.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Grand Forks, ND
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $863 | $34,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $868 | $34,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,089 | $43,560/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,515 | $60,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,827 | $73,080/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Grand Forks, ND
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Grand Forks, ND | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,700 | $30,061 |
| $60,000 | $52,000 | $43,962 |
| $80,000 | $69,300 | $57,490 |
| $100,000 | $86,700 | $69,392 |
| $150,000 | $130,000 | $98,845 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Dakota 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Grand Forks, ND's median wage of $49,760 takes home about $3,514 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $868, which is 25% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,646 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Grand Forks, ND
- Federal income tax$3,791
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,085
- Medicare (1.45%)$722
- North Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,162
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay and living costs in North Dakota cities
Half of North Dakota’s 429,430 workers earn less than $52,480 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $38,600–$75,810 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Bismarck, ND stretches a paycheck furthest, while Fargo, ND is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $51,050 | 90.9 | $917 | 25% | $2,683 | $47,538 |
| Bismarck, ND | $52,560 | 91.0 | $1,030 | 28% | $2,671 | $48,791 |
| Grand Forks, ND | $49,760 | 86.7 | $868 | 25% | $2,646 | $48,651 |
| Minot, ND | $48,940 | 87.0 | $948 | 27% | $2,511 | $47,690 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Grand Forks, ND vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND | 86.7 | $868 | $49,760 | 52,000 |
| Lawrence, KS | 90.2 | $1,006 | $47,390 | 51,750 |
| Staunton, VA | 91.1 | $1,095 | $48,040 | 51,640 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 90.6 | $846 | $46,810 | 51,540 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 92.1 | $935 | $40,230 | 52,570 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 102.4 | $1,311 | $59,590 | 52,600 |
| Sherman, TX | 93.8 | $1,089 | $44,610 | 52,690 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand Forks, ND expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area are 86.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 59.7%. It is the #357 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Grand Forks, ND?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,998 in Grand Forks, ND (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,760.
Can you afford Grand Forks, ND on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,760 median wage takes home about $3,514 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $868 would take 25% of that.
How much is rent in Grand Forks, ND?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Grand Forks, ND are $863 for a studio, $868 for one bedroom, $1,089 for two bedrooms and $1,515 for three bedrooms, including utilities.