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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,334 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,415 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,497 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Grand Forks, ND 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$21.76 $21.76

13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$86.1 $86.1

36.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.64 $9.64

42.84%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.97 $4.97

14.89%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.83 $2.83

7.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.08 $3.08

-18.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.03 $5.03

55.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.04 $7.04

11.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.14 $1.14

18.42%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.61 $3.61

40.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.49 $4.49

20.04%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.66 $3.66

87.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$24.14 $24.14

3.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.67 $11.67

35.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.61 $15.61

31.90%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.88 $4.88

25.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.97 $1.97

43.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.53 $4.53

21.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.23 $3.23

108.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.19 $2.19

43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.90 $2.90

31.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.24 $2.24

20.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.05 $2.05

28.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.19 $10.19

14.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$35.13 $35.13

-55.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.76 $1.76

66.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.85 $5.85

-27.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.46 $1.46

93.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$42.52 $42.52

135.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$6.13 $6.13

-57.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.65 $1.65

4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.91 $28.91

4.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.81 $0.81

46.91%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.0K $29.0K

12.70%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.55%

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

$263 $263

$275 $275

-4.64%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$105 $105

-41.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$75.5 $75.5

0.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$59.4 $59.4

33.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.25 $15.25

6.69%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,322 $1,322

72.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

24.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$51.9 $51.9

32.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.35 $39.35

32.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.0 $86.0

34.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$111 $111

29.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,009 $1,009

131.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$810 $810

129.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,717 $1,717

169.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,313 $1,313

164.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,514 $1,514

413.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,493 $1,493

250.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,787 $4,787

38.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,009 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 38% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $86.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $465 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

Seattle, WA vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Seattle, 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.

Seattle, WA pays 38% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,009 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 136% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,322 in Grand Forks, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,334 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. 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 $2,334 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Grand Forks, ND hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA 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 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.