What is the cost of living in East Grand Forks, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Grand Forks has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, East Grand Forks has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in East Grand Forks ranks as #38 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies East Grand Forks ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in East Grand Forks, check out:
East Grand Forks Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Grand Forks. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Grand Forks is 97.
The Groceries index in East Grand Forks is 99.
The Health index in East Grand Forks is 101.
The Housing index in East Grand Forks is 99.
The Transportation index in East Grand Forks is 103.
The Utilities index in East Grand Forks is 101.
| Living Expense | East Grand Forks | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
East Grand Forks Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in East Grand Forks Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
East Grand Forks, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in East Grand Forks is $284,568.
The Median Rent in East Grand Forks is $888.
The Median Income in East Grand Forks is $77,549.
The Home Value To Income in East Grand Forks is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Grand Forks is 0.14x.
| Statistic | East Grand Forks | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $284,568 | $346,667 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $888 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,549 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
East Grand Forks, MN Costs By Category
Detailed East Grand Forks Services costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | East Grand Forks | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $38.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed East Grand Forks Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | East Grand Forks | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.52 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.48 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.11 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.88 | $3.7 |
Detailed East Grand Forks Health costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | East Grand Forks | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Grand Forks Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | East Grand Forks | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Grand Forks Utilities costs vs. Minnesota
| Item | East Grand Forks | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
East Grand Forks SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Grand Forks
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Grand Forks. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Grand Forks, ND has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x East Grand Forks.
Thief River Falls, MN has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x East Grand Forks.
Crookston, MN has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x East Grand Forks.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Grand Forks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND | 59,042 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 8,823 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Crookston, MN | 7,344 | 92 | 0.9x |








