What is the cost of living in Grand Forks, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Grand Forks has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Grand Forks has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Grand Forks ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Grand Forks ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Grand Forks, check out:
Grand Forks Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Grand Forks. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Grand Forks is 100.
The Groceries index in Grand Forks is 97.
The Health index in Grand Forks is 107.
The Housing index in Grand Forks is 100.
The Transportation index in Grand Forks is 101.
The Utilities index in Grand Forks is 97.
| Living Expense | Grand Forks | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 107 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 99 | 100 |
Grand Forks Cost Of Living Compared To North Dakota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Dakota, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Dakota
- Most Affordable Cities In North Dakota
- Average Rent In North Dakota
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Grand Forks, ND Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Dakota, 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 Grand Forks is $291,534.
The Median Rent in Grand Forks is $980.
The Median Income in Grand Forks is $63,627.
The Home Value To Income in Grand Forks is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Grand Forks is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Grand Forks | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $291,534 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $980 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,627 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Grand Forks, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Grand Forks Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Grand Forks | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Grand Forks Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Grand Forks | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Grand Forks Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Grand Forks | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Grand Forks Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Grand Forks | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Grand Forks Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Grand Forks | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
Grand Forks SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Grand Forks
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Grand Forks. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
East Grand Forks, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Grand Forks.
Thief River Falls, MN has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Grand Forks.
Crookston, MN has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Grand Forks.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Grand Forks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Grand Forks, MN | 9,028 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 8,823 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Crookston, MN | 7,344 | 92 | 0.9x |
