Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,000 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,000

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL and in Grand Forks, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,000 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Grand Forks, ND $2,000

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,942 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Grand Forks, ND $2,942

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,885 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Grand Forks, ND $3,885

Chicago, IL costs about 54% more than Grand Forks, ND, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Grand Forks, ND sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Grand Forks, ND by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$21.17 $21.17

-3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$80.4 $80.4

10.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.83 $12.83

0.16%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.95 $5.95

-2.86%

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

$2.74 $2.74

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.99 $2.99

-24.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.12 $5.12

34.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.15 $6.15

50.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.14 $1.14

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.67 $3.67

-3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.36 $4.36

23.39%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.51 $3.51

29.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$24.24 $24.24

-43.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.97 $1.97

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.49 $4.49

-13.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.11 $3.11

55.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.17 $2.17

29.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.92 $2.92

-8.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.22 $2.22

-6.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.96 $1.96

54.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.16 $10.16

36.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$34.43 $34.43

-56.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$6.08 $6.08

-43.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.46 $1.46

66.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$42.14 $42.14

78.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$5.96 $5.96

-46.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.87 $0.87

47.13%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

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)

$192 $192

$218 $218

-11.89%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$115 $115

-39.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$67.3 $67.3

-7.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$61.4 $61.4

-22.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$15.09 $15.09

18.16%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$586 $586

209.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$983 $983

157.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$791 $791

105.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,551 $1,551

211.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,299 $1,299

110.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$1,729 $1,729

140.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$1,691 $1,691

61.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$4,048 $4,048

21.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.82

-0.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $983 in Grand Forks, ND. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in Grand Forks, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $323 – making Grand Forks, ND the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND

🕒 Local time

05:37 5:37 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

50,372

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Grand Forks, ND 1,000 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
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

Chicago, IL vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,000 in Grand Forks, ND – Grand Forks, ND comes out roughly 35% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,999 in Grand Forks, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Grand Forks, ND, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $983 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $80 in Grand Forks, ND. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Grand Forks, ND – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Grand Forks, ND. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.