Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,415 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,450 in Grand Forks, ND versus $6,980 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,552 in Grand Forks, ND versus $9,544 in New York, NY.

Living in Grand Forks, ND costs roughly 47% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grand Forks, ND 76% above, New York, NY 230% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.59 $21.59

$29.48 $29.48

-26.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$143 $143

-40.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 $9.31

$12.41 $12.41

-24.98%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$6.08 $6.08

-15.63%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.33 $3.33

-18.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.70 $2.70

11.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$8.17 $8.17

-40.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$12.04 $12.04

-43.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.62 $1.62

-32.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.08 $5.08

-31.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$8.12 $8.12

-47.17%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$6.87 $6.87

-46.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.99 $23.99

$17.61 $17.61

36.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.60 $11.60

$16.41 $16.41

-29.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.42 $15.42

$19.81 $19.81

-22.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$7.66 $7.66

-34.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.53 $2.53

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.61 $5.61

-21.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$6.40 $6.40

-49.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.84 $3.84

-41.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$4.10 $4.10

-30.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.08 $3.08

-30.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.49 $2.49

-22.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$18.83 $18.83

-47.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.44 $34.44

$19.67 $19.67

75.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.99 $2.99

-40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 $6.05

$3.75 $3.75

61.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.94 $2.94

-47.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.72 $42.72

$133 $133

-67.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.05 $5.05

17.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.20 $2.20

-25.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.95 $28.95

$42.75 $42.75

-32.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.97 $0.97

-16.49%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-14.00%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

-10.35%

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

$276 $276

$182 $182

51.47%

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

$107 $107

$60.3 $60.3

76.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 $74.8

$63.5 $63.5

17.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 $59.1

$143 $143

-58.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$19.89 $19.89

-25.79%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$3,129 $3,129

-58.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$58.2K $58.2K

-59.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$67.5 $67.5

-22.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.74 $40.74

$47.20 $47.20

-13.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$113 $113

-23.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$174 $174

-34.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$984 $984

$4,145 $4,145

-76.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 $795

$2,693 $2,693

-70.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,679 $1,679

$8,255 $8,255

-79.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 $1,322

$5,298 $5,298

-75.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,508 $1,508

$18.5K $18.5K

-91.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,487 $1,487

$6,505 $6,505

-77.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,816 $4,816

$5,520 $5,520

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $984 in Grand Forks, ND and $4,145 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND vs $143 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $553 per month, with Grand Forks, ND 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

Grand Forks, ND vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 88% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grand Forks, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in New York, NY. 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: $984 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,145 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Grand Forks, ND runs roughly 211% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,306 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,129 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,349 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,415 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Forks, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Grand Forks, ND delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,349 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Grand Forks, ND hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Grand Forks, ND and New York, NY 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 88% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.