Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,014 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,607

/mo nomad

Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,014

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Grand Forks, ND

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Grand Forks, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Austin, TX versus $2,014 in Grand Forks, ND.

Austin, TX $2,607
Grand Forks, ND $2,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Austin, TX versus $2,938 in Grand Forks, ND.

Austin, TX $4,031
Grand Forks, ND $2,938

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,454 in Austin, TX versus $3,862 in Grand Forks, ND.

Austin, TX $5,454
Grand Forks, ND $3,862

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than in Grand Forks, ND, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Grand Forks, ND 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$21.09 $21.09

-3.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.7 $84.7

$79.3 $79.3

6.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 $12.12

$12.78 $12.78

-5.16%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$5.84 $5.84

-3.25%

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

$3.68 $3.68

$2.70 $2.70

36.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.98 $2.98

-20.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.92 $4.92

59.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 $8.82

$6.16 $6.16

43.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.13 $1.13

0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.42 $3.42

7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.28 $4.28

-22.66%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$3.64 $3.64

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$24.73 $24.73

-47.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.06 $2.06

-29.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.38 $4.38

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.28 $3.28

37.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.17 $2.17

41.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.91 $2.91

-18.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.15 $2.15

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.97 $1.97

12.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 $9.97

$10.10 $10.10

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$34.62 $34.62

-56.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$5.94 $5.94

-43.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.49 $1.49

-18.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.53 $40.53

$41.98 $41.98

-3.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$6.01 $6.01

-53.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.39 $35.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.83 $0.83

14.46%

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

$34.2K $34.2K

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

$26.8K $26.8K

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

$223 $223

0.15%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$113 $113

-48.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$71.8 $71.8

-0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 $53.0

$62.9 $62.9

-15.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 $16.75

Cinema Ticket

$14.06 $14.06

$15.05 $15.05

-6.58%

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

$1,459 $1,459

$590 $590

147.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.75 $42.75

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,112 $2,112

$961 $961

119.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 $1,230

$800 $800

53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,863 $3,863

$1,551 $1,551

148.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$1,279 $1,279

88.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,426 $7,426

$1,663 $1,663

346.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,060 $3,060

$1,685 $1,685

81.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,179 $5,179

$4,097 $4,097

26.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.2K 47.2%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$410 15.7%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$353 13.5%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.4%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.9%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$81 3.1%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$56 2.2%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Austin, TX and $961 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 26% 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: $85 in Austin, TX vs $79 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $323 per month, with Grand Forks, ND cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND

🕒 Local time

21:27 9:27 PM

Same time as Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

50,372

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Austin, TX Grand Forks, ND 1,960 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Grand Forks, ND

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 23% 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.

Average pay runs 26% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $961 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $2,607 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,014 in Grand Forks, ND – Grand Forks, ND is about 23% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 3% less than in Grand Forks, ND. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Grand Forks, ND is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Grand Forks, ND wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.