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: $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,334 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,227 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $3,415 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,410 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $4,497 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 30% more expensive than Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 127% above, Grand Forks, ND 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.21 $20.21

$21.76 $21.76

-7.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 $86.5

$86.1 $86.1

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 $9.96

$9.64 $9.64

3.32%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$4.97 $4.97

23.14%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$2.83 $2.83

16.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.08 $3.08

-24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.03 $5.03

21.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.04 $7.04

-0.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.14 $1.14

-12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.61 $3.61

0.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.49 $4.49

-2.45%

Eggs

$5.66 $5.66

$3.66 $3.66

54.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$24.14 $24.14

-37.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$11.67 $11.67

26.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$15.61 $15.61

18.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.88 $4.88

-6.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.97 $1.97

-22.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.53 $4.53

-15.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.23 $3.23

50.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.19 $2.19

20.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.90 $2.90

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.24 $2.24

1.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.05 $2.05

12.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.19 $10.19

-3.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.71 $18.71

$35.13 $35.13

-46.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.76 $1.76

28.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$5.85 $5.85

-34.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.46 $1.46

61.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.52 $42.52

45.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$6.13 $6.13

-58.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.65 $1.65

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.05 $25.05

$28.91 $28.91

-13.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.81 $0.81

-2.47%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$29.0K $29.0K

-6.06%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.44%

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

$192 $192

$275 $275

-30.16%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$105 $105

-29.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 $100

$75.5 $75.5

32.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 $60.2

$59.4 $59.4

1.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.27 $30.27

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$15.25 $15.25

-3.21%

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

$1,479 $1,479

$1,322 $1,322

11.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$23.5K $23.5K

4.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$51.9 $51.9

11.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 $36.99

$39.35 $39.35

-6.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$86.0 $86.0

6.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$111 $111

-10.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,741 $1,741

$1,009 $1,009

72.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$810 $810

96.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,548 $2,548

$1,717 $1,717

48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,313 $1,313

75.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,604 $2,604

$1,514 $1,514

72.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,464 $2,464

$1,493 $1,493

65.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,246 $4,246

$4,787 $4,787

-11.30%

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 Colorado Springs, CO: June 1, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,009 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $86.0 in Grand Forks, ND. Groceries flip the comparison at $439 vs $465, with Colorado Springs, CO cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Grand Forks, ND earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,009 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Colorado Springs, CO pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,334 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,044 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 30% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.