Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — 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; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$784
$933
+19% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$761
$963
+27% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,132
+20% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,304
+5% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$207,000
+15% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$62,995
+1% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$49,340
+1% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
34.1 yr
+4.7 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
46.5%
55.3%
+8.8 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
34.2%
+5.0 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
14.8 min
24.3 min
+9.5 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
936.6
+160% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
2,290.6
3,351.7
+46% in Indianapolis, IN

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
53.2°F
+13.2°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
42.4 in
+21.6 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$24.52
+35% in Indianapolis, IN

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 / IN)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
2.95%
+0.5 pp in IN

Grand Forks vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Indianapolis?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Indianapolis?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).