Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Grand Forks, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Grand Forks, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,316 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,437 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $4,557 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 15% more expensive than Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Grand Forks, ND 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$21.89 $21.89

-9.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$84.0 $84.0

-11.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.33 $9.33

7.50%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$4.96 $4.96

11.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.77 $2.77

0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$3.05 $3.05

-31.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.06 $5.06

19.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.94 $6.94

12.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.62 $3.62

-4.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.52 $4.52

-24.34%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$3.61 $3.61

21.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$24.11 $24.11

-49.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$11.69 $11.69

-7.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$15.68 $15.68

-8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.78 $4.78

4.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.06 $2.06

-26.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.28 $4.28

2.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.27 $3.27

21.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.26 $2.26

21.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.85 $2.85

-2.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.24 $2.24

-11.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.98 $1.98

15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$9.85 $9.85

-11.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$35.64 $35.64

-58.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.77 $1.77

27.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$6.10 $6.10

-41.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.52 $1.52

1.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$41.40 $41.40

4.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.85 $5.85

-23.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.61 $1.61

12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$29.01 $29.01

21.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.82 $0.82

-9.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 $170

$282 $282

-39.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$103 $103

-41.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$75.8 $75.8

-11.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$59.7 $59.7

3.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.82 $14.82

2.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$1,288 $1,288

7.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

-8.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$51.7 $51.7

10.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$40.70 $40.70

12.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$87.7 $87.7

-2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,015 $1,015

115.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$804 $804

76.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$1,693 $1,693

124.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$1,324 $1,324

104.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$1,520 $1,520

374.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$1,491 $1,491

117.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,892 $4,892

0.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,015 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $84.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $465 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grand Forks, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 0% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,015 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,316 in Grand Forks, ND – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Grand Forks, ND runs roughly 4% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,316 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,657 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Forks, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Grand Forks, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Grand Forks, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.