Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$930/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $920 in Grand Forks, ND versus $930 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Green Bay, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 2% higher in Grand Forks, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$784
$707
+10% in Grand Forks, ND
1 Bedroom
$761
$730
+4% in Grand Forks, ND
2 Bedroom
$947
$956
+1% in Green Bay, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,287
+6% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$191,500
+21% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$62,546
+2% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$49,940
+0% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
35.7 yr
+6.3 yr in Green Bay, WI
Homeownership
46.5%
55.9%
+9.4 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
25.5%
+13.7 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
14.8 min
18.9 min
+4.1 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
501.7
+39% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
2,290.6
1,331.2
+42% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
40.0°F
44.3°F
+4.3°F in Green Bay, WI
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
29.5 in
+8.7 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.6
+39% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$18.17
+0% in Grand Forks, ND

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 (ND / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
7.65%
+5.2 pp in WI

Grand Forks vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Green Bay?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Green Bay, WI's $930, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Green Bay?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% 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).