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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in New York, NY is roughly 88% more expensive than in Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$21.59 $21.59

36.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$85.0 $85.0

68.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$9.31 $9.31

33.30%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.13 $5.13

18.52%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.72 $2.72

22.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.02 $3.02

-10.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.88 $4.88

67.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.80 $6.80

77.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.09 $1.09

48.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.47 $3.47

46.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.29 $4.29

89.28%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$3.65 $3.65

88.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$23.99 $23.99

-26.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$11.60 $11.60

41.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$15.42 $15.42

28.47%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.99 $4.99

53.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.07 $2.07

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.40 $4.40

27.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.26 $3.26

96.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.26 $2.26

69.91%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.83 $2.83

44.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.13 $2.13

44.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.94 $1.94

28.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$9.82 $9.82

91.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$34.44 $34.44

-42.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.79 $1.79

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$6.05 $6.05

-38.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.53 $1.53

92.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$42.72 $42.72

210.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$5.92 $5.92

-14.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.63 $1.63

34.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$28.95 $28.95

47.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.1K $30.1K

16.27%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

11.55%

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

$182 $182

$276 $276

-33.98%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$107 $107

-43.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$74.8 $74.8

-15.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$59.1 $59.1

141.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.76 $14.76

34.76%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,306 $1,306

139.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

147.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$52.1 $52.1

29.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$40.74 $40.74

15.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$86.3 $86.3

30.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$113 $113

53.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$984 $984

321.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$795 $795

238.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$1,679 $1,679

391.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$1,322 $1,322

300.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$1,508 $1,508

1129.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$1,487 $1,487

337.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,816 $4,816

14.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

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

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $984 in Grand Forks, ND. 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $459 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

New York, NY vs Grand Forks, ND: 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.

Average pay runs 15% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $984 in Grand Forks, ND. 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 $3,129 in New York, NY versus $1,306 in Grand Forks, ND. 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, New York, NY and Grand Forks, ND 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.