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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,334 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO.

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

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

Living in Grand Forks, ND costs roughly 23% less than in Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.76 $21.76

$20.21 $20.21

7.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.1 $86.1

$86.5 $86.5

-0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 $9.64

$9.96 $9.96

-3.21%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$6.12 $6.12

-18.79%

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

$2.83 $2.83

$3.30 $3.30

-14.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.34 $2.34

31.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$6.09 $6.09

-17.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$6.98 $6.98

0.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.00 $1.00

14.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.62 $3.62

-0.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.38 $4.38

2.51%

Eggs

$3.66 $3.66

$5.66 $5.66

-35.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.14 $24.14

$15.17 $15.17

59.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 $11.67

$14.72 $14.72

-20.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 $15.61

$18.57 $18.57

-15.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.56 $4.56

7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.53 $1.53

28.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.84 $3.84

17.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$4.87 $4.87

-33.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.64 $2.64

-17.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.61 $2.61

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.27 $2.27

-1.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.31 $2.31

-11.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.86 $9.86

3.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$35.13 $35.13

$18.71 $18.71

87.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.26 $2.26

-22.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 $5.85

$3.84 $3.84

52.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.36 $2.36

-38.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.52 $42.52

$61.8 $61.8

-31.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.52 $2.52

143.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.91 $28.91

$25.05 $25.05

15.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.79 $0.79

2.53%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$27.3K $27.3K

6.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.50%

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

$275 $275

$192 $192

43.18%

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

$105 $105

$73.7 $73.7

42.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$100 $100

-24.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 $59.4

$60.2 $60.2

-1.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.27 $30.27

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.76 $14.76

3.32%

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

$1,322 $1,322

$1,479 $1,479

-10.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$24.6K $24.6K

-4.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$57.8 $57.8

-10.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 $39.35

$36.99 $36.99

6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$91.4 $91.4

-5.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$99.2 $99.2

11.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 $1,009

$1,741 $1,741

-42.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$810 $810

$1,593 $1,593

-49.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,717 $1,717

$2,548 $2,548

-32.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$2,310 $2,310

-43.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 $1,514

$2,604 $2,604

-41.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,493 $1,493

$2,464 $2,464

-39.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,787 $4,787

$4,246 $4,246

12.74%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,009 in Grand Forks, ND and $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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: $86.0 in Grand Forks, ND vs $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. Groceries flip the comparison at $465 vs $439, 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

Grand Forks, ND vs Colorado Springs, CO: 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.

Grand Forks, ND pays 13% more on average, 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: $1,009 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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, Grand Forks, ND and Colorado Springs, CO 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.