Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 23% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$998
$784
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$761
+42% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$947
+37% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,371
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$243,300
+42% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$63,838
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$49,760
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
29.4 yr
+6.2 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
46.5%
+14.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
39.2%
+2.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
14.8 min
+8.0 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
360.3
+50% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
2,290.6
+34% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
40.0°F
+9.0°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
20.8 in
+4.3 in in Grand Forks, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.85/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
14.1
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$18.21
+21% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Grand Forks, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Grand Forks, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / ND)
2.9%
5%
+2.1 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
2.50%
+1.9 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Grand Forks?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).