Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,014 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,014

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Grand Forks, ND and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Grand Forks, ND and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,014 per month in Grand Forks, ND vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Forks, ND $2,014
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,938 per month in Grand Forks, ND vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Forks, ND $2,938
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,862 per month in Grand Forks, ND vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Forks, ND $3,862
Chicago, IL $5,999

Grand Forks, ND is about 34% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Grand Forks, ND and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Grand Forks, ND by 48%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.09 $21.09

$20.71 $20.71

1.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$89.2 $89.2

-11.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.78 $12.78

$13.19 $13.19

-3.11%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.66 $5.66

3.18%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.64 $2.64

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.28 $2.28

30.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$6.87 $6.87

-28.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$8.84 $8.84

-30.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.25 $1.25

-9.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.72 $3.72

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.39 $5.39

-20.59%

Eggs

$3.64 $3.64

$4.74 $4.74

-23.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.73 $24.73

$13.84 $13.84

78.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.98 $1.98

4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.06 $4.06

7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.97 $4.97

-34.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.67 $2.67

-18.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.66 $2.66

9.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.24 $2.24

-4.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.13 $3.13

-37.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$13.82 $13.82

-26.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.62 $34.62

$14.88 $14.88

132.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.51 $3.51

69.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.43 $2.43

-38.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.98 $41.98

$73.5 $73.5

-42.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.18 $3.18

88.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.20 $1.20

-30.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

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

$26.7K $26.7K

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

$223 $223

$194 $194

14.53%

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

$113 $113

$69.5 $69.5

62.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 $71.8

$61.6 $61.6

16.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.9 $62.9

$47.90 $47.90

31.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$17.81 $17.81

-15.50%

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

$590 $590

$1,794 $1,794

-67.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$961 $961

$2,526 $2,526

-61.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$800 $800

$1,578 $1,578

-49.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 $1,551

$4,738 $4,738

-67.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$2,693 $2,693

-52.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,663 $1,663

$4,190 $4,190

-60.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,685 $1,685

$2,768 $2,768

-39.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,097 $4,097

$4,931 $4,931

-16.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

6.81

0.15%

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

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Groceries & Markets

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Eating Out

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Clothing & Footwear

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Getting Around

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Sport & Entertainment

Grand Forks, ND

–

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $961 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. 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 20% 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 $79 in Grand Forks, ND versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $447 – making Grand Forks, ND the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

02:09 2:09 AM

Same time as Grand Forks, ND

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

50,372

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Grand Forks, ND Chicago, IL 1,000 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Grand Forks, ND
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Grand Forks, ND vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,014 in Grand Forks, ND, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Grand Forks, ND comes out roughly 34% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,021 per month in Grand Forks, ND and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $961 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Grand Forks, ND and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,014 in Grand Forks, ND and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Grand Forks, ND – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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