Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 2% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$784
+23% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$761
+28% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$947
+26% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,371
+0% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$243,300
+4% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$63,838
+2% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$49,760
+3% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
29.4 yr
+3.6 yr in Columbus, OH
Homeownership
44.3%
46.5%
+2.2 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
39.2%
+1.0 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
21.8 min
14.8 min
+7.0 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
360.3
+26% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,290.6
+26% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
40.0°F
+12.7°F in Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
20.8 in
+19.3 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.85/gal
+1% in Grand Forks, ND

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
14.1
+26% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$18.21
+20% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / ND)
5.75%
5%
+0.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
2.50%
+0.3 pp in OH

Columbus vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Grand Forks?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).