Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 67% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 50% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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.

Cambridge, MA
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$784
+65% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$761
+70% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$947
+68% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,371
+59% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$243,300
+77% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$63,838
+50% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$49,760
+25% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
29.4 yr
+1.1 yr in Cambridge, MA
Homeownership
33.7%
46.5%
+12.8 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
39.2%
+41.0 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
14.8 min
+11.3 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
360.3
+17% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,290.6
+14% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
40.0°F
+11.5°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
20.8 in
+23.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.85/gal
+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.1
+52% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$18.21
+41% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Grand Forks, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / ND)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
2.50%
+6.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 67% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Grand Forks?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).