Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grand Forks, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grand Forks, ND

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.6% cheaper than Grand Forks, ND without rent, and 30% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.1% more expensive than Grand Forks, ND without rent, and 34.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.18 $21.18
-1.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$84.4 $84.4
18.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.7 $9.7
23.40%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.86 $4.86
14.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.72 $2.72
14.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.92 $2.92
-17.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.87 $4.87
40.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.91 $6.91
22.29%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.13 $1.13
-7.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.45 $3.45
20.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.34 $4.34
27.19%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.53 $3.53
31.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$24.04 $24.04
-40.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.52 $11.52
29.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.15 $15.15
27.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5 $5
3.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.06 $2.06
-16.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.32 $4.32
2.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.23 $3.23
39.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.18 $2.18
16.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.81 $2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.24 $2.24
8.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.01 $2.01
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.87 $9.87
53.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$34.89 $34.89
-52.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.83 $1.83
28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$5.97 $5.97
-38.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.54 $1.54
64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$41.58 $41.58
78.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.88 $5.88
-43.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.69 $28.69
-11.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.75 $0.75
44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.3K $29.3K
10.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$281 $281
-32.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$105 $105
-39.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$77.6 $77.6
-16.01%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$59.1 $59.1
29.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.95 $14.95
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,280 $1,280
61.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.55%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.8 $51.8
24.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.52 $39.52
32.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.9 $86.9
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$990 $990
140.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$792 $792
100.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,684 $1,684
182.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,284 $1,284
119.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,460 $1,460
145.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,446 $1,446
72.19%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Grand Forks, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,252 $5,252
0.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: October 29, 2025

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