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

😐 Solo nomad: Grand Forks, ND is 0.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Grand Forks, ND is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.18 $21.18
$20.82 $20.82
1.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4 $84.4
$100 $100
-15.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.7 $9.7
$11.97 $11.97
-18.96%
Cappuccino
$4.86 $4.86
$5.56 $5.56
-12.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.11 $3.11
-12.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.42 $2.42
20.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$6.86 $6.86
-29.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$8.45 $8.45
-18.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.04 $1.04
8.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.15 $4.15
-16.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.52 $5.52
-21.38%
Eggs
$3.53 $3.53
$4.65 $4.65
-24.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.04 $24.04
$14.33 $14.33
67.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.52 $11.52
$14.88 $14.88
-22.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.15 $15.15
$19.34 $19.34
-21.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5 $5
$5.17 $5.17
-3.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.71 $1.71
20.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$4.51 $4.51
-28.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.53 $2.53
-13.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.74 $2.74
2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.43 $2.43
-7.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.7 $2.7
-25.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 $9.87
$15.19 $15.19
-35.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$34.89 $34.89
$16.42 $16.42
112.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.35 $2.35
-22.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$3.7 $3.7
61.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.53 $2.53
-39.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.58 $41.58
$74.1 $74.1
-43.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 $5.88
$3.34 $3.34
76.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.69 $28.69
$25.42 $25.42
12.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.08 $1.08
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$281 $281
$188 $188
49.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$105 $105
$63.7 $63.7
64.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.6 $77.6
$65.2 $65.2
19.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.1 $59.1
$76.7 $76.7
-22.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.95 $14.95
$14.93 $14.93
0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,280 $1,280
$2,063 $2,063
-37.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$64.3 $64.3
-19.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.52 $39.52
$52.4 $52.4
-24.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$95.2 $95.2
-8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$990 $990
$2,378 $2,378
-58.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 $792
$1,584 $1,584
-50.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,684 $1,684
$4,763 $4,763
-64.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$2,815 $2,815
-54.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,460 $1,460
$3,588 $3,588
-59.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 $1,446
$2,490 $2,490
-41.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,252 $5,252
$5,275 $5,275
-0.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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