Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and Spokane, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and Spokane, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,351 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,673 in Spokane, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,490 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,024 in Spokane, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,630 in Grand Forks, ND versus $5,374 in Spokane, WA.

Living in Grand Forks, ND costs roughly 12% less than in Spokane, WA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grand Forks, ND 77% above, Spokane, WA 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.92 $21.92

$24.30 $24.30

-9.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 $84.4

$74.4 $74.4

13.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 $9.30

$12.63 $12.63

-26.37%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$4.84 $4.84

5.58%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.39 $2.39

16.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.30 $2.30

26.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$6.37 $6.37

-23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$6.14 $6.14

16.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.97 $0.97

12.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.97 $2.97

20.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.74 $4.74

-6.12%

Eggs

$3.62 $3.62

$4.48 $4.48

-19.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.14 $24.14

$16.42 $16.42

47.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.31 $11.31

$15.26 $15.26

-25.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.70 $15.70

$16.14 $16.14

-2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.59 $4.59

4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.87 $1.87

8.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.01 $5.01

-10.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$5.52 $5.52

-40.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.40 $3.40

-33.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.60 $2.60

6.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.05 $2.05

5.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.26 $2.26

-11.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.46 $11.46

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$35.55 $35.55

$14.28 $14.28

148.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.92 $1.92

-3.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 $5.95

$5.21 $5.21

14.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.59 $42.59

$59.0 $59.0

-27.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.09 $5.09

14.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.71 $1.71

-6.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.92 $28.92

$39.82 $39.82

-27.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.16 $1.16

-33.62%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$33.0K $33.0K

-11.98%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.51%

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

$275 $275

$166 $166

66.20%

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

$105 $105

$64.2 $64.2

62.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 $77.1

$72.8 $72.8

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 $59.1

$44.01 $44.01

34.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 $15.07

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$14.54 $14.54

1.99%

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

$1,312 $1,312

$1,413 $1,413

-7.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$15.7K $15.7K

46.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$52.3 $52.3

-0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 $40.13

$50.9 $50.9

-21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$116 $116

-26.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$146 $146

-22.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 $983

$1,587 $1,587

-38.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$803 $803

$1,344 $1,344

-40.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 $1,667

$2,867 $2,867

-41.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 $1,317

$2,177 $2,177

-39.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,501 $1,501

$3,347 $3,347

-55.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,513 $1,513

$2,276 $2,276

-33.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,856 $4,856

$4,219 $4,219

15.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.64

-2.86%

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

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: July 27, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $983 in Grand Forks, ND and $1,587 in Spokane, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 15% 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 Grand Forks, ND vs $74.0 in Spokane, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $431 per month, with Spokane, WA 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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Spokane, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grand Forks, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Grand Forks, ND, 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: $983 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,587 in Spokane, WA. 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 38% less than in Spokane, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,312 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,413 in Spokane, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,351 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,673 in Spokane, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Spokane, WA. 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 Spokane, WA 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 14% less than in Spokane, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.