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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,450 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,552 in Grand Forks, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 31% more than Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chicago, IL and Grand Forks, ND sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Grand Forks, ND by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$21.59 $21.59

-6.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$85.0 $85.0

17.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.31 $9.31

31.36%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.13 $5.13

9.16%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.72 $2.72

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.02 $3.02

-19.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.88 $4.88

42.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.80 $6.80

20.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.47 $3.47

14.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.29 $4.29

30.07%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.65 $3.65

22.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$23.99 $23.99

-39.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.60 $11.60

30.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.42 $15.42

25.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.99 $4.99

7.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.07 $2.07

-14.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.40 $4.40

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.26 $3.26

35.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.26 $2.26

12.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.83 $2.83

-4.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.13 $2.13

16.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.94 $1.94

34.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.82 $9.82

50.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$34.44 $34.44

-55.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.79 $1.79

37.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$6.05 $6.05

-40.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.53 $1.53

66.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$42.72 $42.72

78.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.92 $5.92

-44.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.63 $1.63

-15.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$28.95 $28.95

-12.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

5.11%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.70%

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

$186 $186

$276 $276

-32.56%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$107 $107

-41.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$74.8 $74.8

-11.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$59.1 $59.1

31.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.76 $14.76

-0.14%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,306 $1,306

56.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

69.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.1 $52.1

22.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.74 $40.74

25.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.3 $86.3

10.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$113 $113

27.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$984 $984

134.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$795 $795

98.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,679 $1,679

179.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,322 $1,322

107.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,508 $1,508

169.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,487 $1,487

81.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,816 $4,816

4.21%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $984 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 4% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $459 in Grand Forks, ND – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND – roughly 31% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,523 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Grand Forks, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,349, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Grand Forks, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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