Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Grand Forks, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Grand Forks, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,993 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,360 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,944 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,679 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $3,894 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 53% more expensive than in Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 121% above, Grand Forks, ND 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.93 $19.93

$21.89 $21.89

-8.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.7 $85.7

$79.3 $79.3

8.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.78 $12.78

$13.10 $13.10

-2.44%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$6.10 $6.10

-11.31%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.71 $2.71

-1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.01 $3.01

-25.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.85 $4.85

21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$6.02 $6.02

18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.13 $1.13

-11.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.56 $3.56

-7.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.34 $4.34

-4.15%

Eggs

$5.98 $5.98

$3.50 $3.50

70.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.00 $15.00

$24.14 $24.14

-37.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 $19.02

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.50 $4.50

0.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$3.16 $3.16

49.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.25 $2.25

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.80 $2.80

-9.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.13 $2.13

11.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.02 $2.02

-3.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.60 $10.60

$10.15 $10.15

4.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.16 $19.16

$34.65 $34.65

-44.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.04 $6.04

-25.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.53 $1.53

15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 $63.8

$42.83 $42.83

48.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.75 $3.75

$6.08 $6.08

-38.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.79 $0.79

29.11%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

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

$25.2K $25.2K

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

$201 $201

$216 $216

-6.97%

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

$94.3 $94.3

$115 $115

-18.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$72.9 $72.9

39.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$61.7 $61.7

-6.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.19 $34.19

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$15.29 $15.29

-2.68%

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

$1,475 $1,475

$576 $576

156.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 $57.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.75 $34.75

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 $1,712

$967 $967

77.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 $1,509

$792 $792

90.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,530 $1,530

73.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,390 $2,390

$1,280 $1,280

86.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,596 $2,596

$1,492 $1,492

73.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$1,485 $1,485

61.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,242 $4,242

$4,105 $4,105

3.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.14

6.3

-2.54%

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

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: August 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO and $967 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colorado Springs, CO pays 3% 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: $86.0 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $79.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $323 per month, with Grand Forks, ND 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

Colorado Springs, CO vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Colorado Springs, CO, 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: $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $967 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $86.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,993 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Colorado Springs, CO. 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, Colorado Springs, CO 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 53% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.