Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 10% higher in Huntsville, AL. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$784
$815
+4% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$761
$900
+18% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,080
+14% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,251
+9% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$263,100
+8% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$70,778
+11% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$51,740
+4% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
36.4 yr
+7.0 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
46.5%
58.1%
+11.6 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
46.2%
+7.0 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
14.8 min
19.3 min
+4.5 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
483.2
+34% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,290.6
2,395.7
+5% in Huntsville, AL

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
62.1°F
+22.1°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
54.3 in
+33.5 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Grand Forks, ND

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.4
+16% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$24.06
+32% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / AL)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
5.00%
+2.5 pp in AL

Grand Forks vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Huntsville?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Huntsville?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).