Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Grand Forks?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Grand Forks?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Grand Forks?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Austin vs Grand Forks Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 30% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$784

+42% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$761

+48% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$947

+47% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,371

+36% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$243,300

+53% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$63,838

+30% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$49,760

+13% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

29.4 yr

+5.1 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

46.5%

+2.1 pp in Grand Forks, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

39.2%

+19.0 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

14.8 min

+9.2 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

360.3

+24% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

2,290.6

+30% in Austin, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

40.0°F

+27.2°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

20.8 in

+14.1 in in Austin, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.85/gal

+8% in Grand Forks, ND

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.1

+11% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$18.21

+43% in Austin, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Grand Forks, ND

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Austin, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Grand Forks, ND

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Grand Forks, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / ND)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in ND

Austin vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Grand Forks?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Grand Forks?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Grand Forks?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).