Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Juneau?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Juneau?

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

Grand Forks vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 36% higher in Juneau, AK. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$784

$993

+27% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$761

$1,257

+65% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$947

$1,647

+74% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,371

$1,949

+42% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,300

$432,500

+78% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$63,838

$100,513

+57% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,760

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

29.4 yr

39.8 yr

+10.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

46.5%

64.4%

+17.9 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

39.2%

40.5%

+1.3 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

14.8 min

15.8 min

+1.0 min in Juneau, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

360.3

515.6

+43% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,290.6

2,113.1

+8% 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

42.1°F

+2.1°F in Juneau, AK

Annual Precipitation

20.8 in

62.3 in

+41.5 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Juneau, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

28.2

+100% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$17.35

+5% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Grand Forks, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / AK)

None

+5.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

None

+2.5 pp in ND

Grand Forks vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Juneau?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Juneau?: Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).