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: $3,108 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,275 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $3,450 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,442 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $4,552 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 32% more expensive than in Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 133% above, Grand Forks, ND 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.73 $19.73

$21.59 $21.59

-8.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$85.0 $85.0

-1.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.31 $9.31

5.80%

Cappuccino

$6.22 $6.22

$5.13 $5.13

21.25%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.72 $2.72

19.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.02 $3.02

-22.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.24 $6.24

$4.88 $4.88

27.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.80 $6.80

2.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.09 $1.09

-8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.47 $3.47

6.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.29 $4.29

3.26%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$3.65 $3.65

51.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$23.99 $23.99

-34.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$11.60 $11.60

31.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.33 $18.33

$15.42 $15.42

18.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.99 $4.99

-12.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.07 $2.07

-23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$4.40 $4.40

-15.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$3.26 $3.26

47.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.26 $2.26

20.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.83 $2.83

-4.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.13 $2.13

6.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.94 $1.94

17.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$9.82 $9.82

3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 $19.35

$34.44 $34.44

-43.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.79 $1.79

23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$6.05 $6.05

-36.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.53 $1.53

52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 $62.0

$42.72 $42.72

45.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$5.92 $5.92

-58.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.63 $1.63

-12.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$28.95 $28.95

-13.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.81 $0.81

6.17%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

-9.27%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.88%

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

$194 $194

$276 $276

-29.78%

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

$71.9 $71.9

$107 $107

-32.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 $101

$74.8 $74.8

34.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$59.1 $59.1

4.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.72 $29.72

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.76 $14.76

1.96%

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

$1,477 $1,477

$1,306 $1,306

13.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

2.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$52.1 $52.1

12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.24 $37.24

$40.74 $40.74

-8.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$86.3 $86.3

5.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$113 $113

-9.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,702 $1,702

$984 $984

72.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$795 $795

104.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$1,679 $1,679

54.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 $2,272

$1,322 $1,322

71.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,514 $2,514

$1,508 $1,508

66.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,444 $2,444

$1,487 $1,487

64.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,292 $4,292

$4,816 $4,816

-10.89%

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: July 13, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO and $984 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $459 per month, with Colorado Springs, CO 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Grand Forks, ND. 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: $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $984 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 4% 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 $85.0 versus $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,108 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 32% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.