Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Forks, ND: $2,000 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Grand Forks, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,000

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA and in Grand Forks, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,762 in Seattle, WA versus $2,000 in Grand Forks, ND.

Seattle, WA $3,762
Grand Forks, ND $2,000

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,651 in Seattle, WA versus $2,942 in Grand Forks, ND.

Seattle, WA $5,651
Grand Forks, ND $2,942

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,541 in Seattle, WA versus $3,885 in Grand Forks, ND.

Seattle, WA $7,541
Grand Forks, ND $3,885

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 88% 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: Seattle, WA 178% above, Grand Forks, ND 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.80 $23.80

$21.17 $21.17

12.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$80.4 $80.4

22.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.94 $14.94

$12.83 $12.83

16.45%

Cappuccino

$6.79 $6.79

$5.95 $5.95

14.12%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.74 $2.74

17.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.99 $2.99

5.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.12 $5.12

60.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.15 $6.15

27.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.14 $1.14

2.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.67 $3.67

44.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.36 $4.36

32.11%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.51 $3.51

39.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.25 $20.25

$24.24 $24.24

-16.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.35 $23.35

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.97 $1.97

-4.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.49 $4.49

19.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.11 $3.11

111.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.17 $2.17

56.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.92 $2.92

-1.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.22 $2.22

30.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$10.16 $10.16

19.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$34.43 $34.43

-55.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.08 $6.08

-3.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.46 $1.46

102.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$42.14 $42.14

159.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$5.96 $5.96

-57.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.87 $0.87

73.56%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

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

$25.7K $25.7K

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

$289 $289

$218 $218

32.48%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$115 $115

-39.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$67.3 $67.3

26.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$61.4 $61.4

13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.05 $35.05

Cinema Ticket

$17.97 $17.97

$15.09 $15.09

19.09%

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

$2,819 $2,819

$586 $586

380.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.9K $43.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.2 $91.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,579 $2,579

$983 $983

162.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 $1,943

$791 $791

145.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,100 $5,100

$1,551 $1,551

228.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,541 $3,541

$1,299 $1,299

172.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,357 $7,357

$1,729 $1,729

325.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,921 $4,921

$1,691 $1,691

191.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,448 $6,448

$4,048 $4,048

59.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

6.82

-0.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 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

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8%

Grand Forks, ND

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,579 in Seattle, WA and $983 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $99 in Seattle, WA vs $80 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $323 per month, with Grand Forks, ND cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Grand Forks, ND

🕒 Local time

03:37 3:37 AM

05:37 5:37 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

50,372

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Grand Forks, ND 1,880 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

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Seattle, WA
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

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

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 47% 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.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,579 in Seattle, WA 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 61% less than in Seattle, WA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Childcare runs $2,819 in Seattle, WA 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 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.