Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,034 a month against $2,561 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Grand Forks, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$2,034
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,034 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,561 in Toronto.

  • Grand Forks, ND $2,034
  • Toronto $2,561

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,958 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,694 in Toronto.

  • Grand Forks, ND $2,958
  • Toronto $3,694

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,883 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,826 in Toronto.

  • Grand Forks, ND $3,883
  • Toronto $4,826

Living in Grand Forks, ND costs roughly 21% less than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grand Forks, ND 51% above, Toronto 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.48 $21.48
$17.18 CA$24.29
25.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$76.0 CA$107
6.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.84 $12.84
$10.54 CA$14.89
21.82%
Cappuccino
$6.06 $6.06
$4.02 CA$5.68
50.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.12 CA$3.00
26.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.75 CA$2.48
69.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.15 $5.15
$6.24 CA$8.83
-17.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 $5.95
$7.09 CA$10.02
-16.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$2.44 CA$3.45
-54.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.68 CA$3.78
33.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.24 CA$3.17
98.66%
Eggs
$3.67 $3.67
$3.56 CA$5.03
3.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.05 $24.05
$9.09 CA$12.85
164.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$11.33 CA$16.01
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$14.53 CA$20.55
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.62 CA$5.12
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.21 CA$1.72
62.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$3.60 CA$5.09
23.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$4.21 CA$5.96
-25.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.79 CA$2.53
26.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.59 CA$2.25
77.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.27 CA$3.21
-1.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.25 CA$1.77
56.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$13.82 CA$19.53
-26.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$34.40 $34.40
$14.27 CA$20.18
141.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.20 CA$3.10
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.43 CA$3.44
140.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.39 CA$3.38
-38.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.51 $42.51
$111 CA$157
-61.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.04 $6.04
$2.91 CA$4.12
107.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.20 CA$1.69
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$21.38 CA$30.23
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.21 CA$1.71
-28.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.3K CA$28.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$120 CA$170
80.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$115 $115
$32.26 CA$45.60
256.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.1 $73.1
$47.93 CA$67.8
52.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.1 $63.1
$38.48 CA$54.4
63.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.96 CA$32.46
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.27 $15.27
$12.38 CA$17.50
23.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$583 $583
$830 CA$1,173
-29.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$23.1K CA$32.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$50.7 CA$71.7
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.02 CA$56.6
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$98.0 CA$139
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$121 CA$171
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$989 $989
$1,592 CA$2,251
-37.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$815 $815
$1,410 CA$1,994
-42.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$2,670 CA$3,775
-41.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,278 $1,278
$2,152 CA$3,042
-40.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,483 $1,483
$7,945 CA$11.2K
-81.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,530 $1,530
$6,542 CA$9,249
-76.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Forks, ND
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,082 $4,082
$3,727 CA$5,269
9.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.47
52.57%

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

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

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Grand Forks, ND
$815
Toronto
$1.4K 73% $595
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Forks, ND
$406
Toronto
$201 50.6% $205
Eating Out
Grand Forks, ND
$343
Toronto
$278 19% $65
Groceries & Markets
Grand Forks, ND
$322 *
Toronto
$340 5.5% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Grand Forks, ND
$94
Toronto
$63 32.5% $30
Getting Around
Grand Forks, ND
$54 *
Toronto
$129 138% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Grand Forks, ND
- *
Toronto
$139

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $989 in Grand Forks, ND and $1,592 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Grand Forks, ND vs $76.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $340, with Grand Forks, ND cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
02:00 2:00 AM
03:00 3:00 AM
1 h ahead of Grand Forks, ND
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,372
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Grand Forks, ND Toronto 1,440 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Grand Forks, ND
  • Toronto

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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grand Forks, ND or Toronto?
Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grand Forks, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Grand Forks, ND or in Toronto?
Average pay runs 10% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Grand Forks, ND compared to Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $989 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,592 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Grand Forks, ND compared to Toronto?
A monthly transit pass in Grand Forks, ND runs roughly 161% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Grand Forks, ND and in Toronto?
Childcare runs $583 in Grand Forks, ND versus $830 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Grand Forks, ND or in Toronto?
At $2,034 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,561 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Forks, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Grand Forks, ND or Toronto?
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.
How safe is Grand Forks, ND compared to Toronto?
Safety-wise, Grand Forks, ND and Toronto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Grand Forks, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Grand Forks, ND vs other spots: cost of living compared

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