Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Houston?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Houston?

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

Grand Forks vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 1% higher in Grand Forks, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$784

$1,142

+46% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$761

$1,156

+52% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$947

$1,375

+45% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,371

$1,664

+21% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,300

$253,400

+4% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$63,838

$62,894

+1% in Grand Forks, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,760

$49,410

+1% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

29.4 yr

34.3 yr

+4.9 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

46.5%

42.0%

+4.5 pp in Grand Forks, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

39.2%

36.0%

+3.2 pp in Grand Forks, ND

Avg Commute

14.8 min

27.3 min

+12.5 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

360.3

1,153.8

+220% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

2,290.6

4,324.9

+89% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+30.3°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

20.8 in

54.6 in

+33.8 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.52/gal

+8% in Grand Forks, ND

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.9

+13% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$31.89

+75% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Grand Forks, ND

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Houston, TX

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Grand Forks, ND

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Grand Forks, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / TX)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

None

+2.5 pp in ND

Grand Forks vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Houston?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Houston?: Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).