Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,000 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $34,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
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New York, NY Living Index

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New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,906

/mo nomad

Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,000

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Grand Forks, ND

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Grand Forks, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,906 in New York, NY versus $2,000 in Grand Forks, ND.

New York, NY $4,906
Grand Forks, ND $2,000

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,273 in New York, NY versus $2,942 in Grand Forks, ND.

New York, NY $7,273
Grand Forks, ND $2,942

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,641 in New York, NY versus $3,885 in Grand Forks, ND.

New York, NY $9,641
Grand Forks, ND $3,885

Living in New York, NY is roughly 145% more expensive than in Grand Forks, ND, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 263% above, Grand Forks, ND 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.93 $26.93

$21.17 $21.17

27.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 $117

$80.4 $80.4

45.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.60 $14.60

$12.83 $12.83

13.80%

Cappuccino

$6.54 $6.54

$5.95 $5.95

9.92%

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

$3.86 $3.86

$2.74 $2.74

40.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.99 $2.99

-1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.08 $8.08

$5.12 $5.12

57.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$6.15 $6.15

60.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.14 $1.14

14.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.67 $3.67

35.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.70 $7.70

$4.36 $4.36

76.61%

Eggs

$6.09 $6.09

$3.51 $3.51

73.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.55 $19.55

$24.24 $24.24

-19.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.59 $17.59

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.26 $20.26

Apples (1kg)

$6.99 $6.99

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.97 $1.97

12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$4.49 $4.49

49.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$3.11 $3.11

128.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.17 $2.17

112.44%

Onion (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.92 $2.92

63.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.22 $2.22

29.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.14 $19.14

$10.16 $10.16

88.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 $19.63

$34.43 $34.43

-42.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$6.08 $6.08

-31.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.46 $1.46

106.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$42.14 $42.14

230.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$5.96 $5.96

-48.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.87 $0.87

29.89%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

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

$25.8K $25.8K

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

$232 $232

$218 $218

6.60%

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

$71.0 $71.0

$115 $115

-38.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$67.3 $67.3

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$115 $115

$61.4 $61.4

88.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$76.8 $76.8

Cinema Ticket

$22.41 $22.41

$15.09 $15.09

48.51%

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

$3,606 $3,606

$586 $586

514.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$68.7K $68.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.3 $79.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,555 $4,555

$983 $983

363.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,040 $3,040

$791 $791

284.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,742 $9,742

$1,551 $1,551

528.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,331 $5,331

$1,299 $1,299

310.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$1,729 $1,729

954.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,685 $6,685

$1,691 $1,691

295.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,096 $5,096

$4,048 $4,048

25.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.82

1.03%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

New York, NY

$3K 62%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Groceries & Markets

New York, NY

$567 11.6%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Eating Out

New York, NY

$425 8.7%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

New York, NY

$371 7.6%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Clothing & Footwear

New York, NY

$176 3.6%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Getting Around

New York, NY

$165 3.4%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Sport & Entertainment

New York, NY

$160 3.3%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,555 in New York, NY and $983 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 26% 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: $117 in New York, NY vs $80 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $567 vs $323 per month, with Grand Forks, ND cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND

🕒 Local time

07:57 7:57 AM

06:57 6:57 AM

1 h behind New York, NY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,804,190

50,372

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

New York, NY Grand Forks, ND 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

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New York, NY
Grand Forks, ND

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

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

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 59% 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 26% 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: $4,555 in New York, NY versus $983 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 70% less than in New York, NY. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Childcare runs $3,606 in New York, NY versus $586 in Grand Forks, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

Expats usually find Grand Forks, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.