Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Las Vegas?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Las Vegas?

Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Grand Forks vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 10% higher in Las Vegas, NV. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$784

$992

+27% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$761

$1,181

+55% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$947

$1,401

+48% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,371

$1,740

+27% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,300

$395,300

+62% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$63,838

$70,723

+11% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,760

$46,670

+6% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

29.4 yr

38.5 yr

+9.1 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

46.5%

55.7%

+9.2 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

39.2%

27.3%

+11.9 pp in Grand Forks, ND

Avg Commute

14.8 min

25.8 min

+11.0 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

360.3

433.3

+20% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,290.6

2,642.1

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

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

68.4°F

+28.4°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

20.8 in

5.4 in

+15.4 in in Grand Forks, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.1

+7% in Grand Forks, ND

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$13.83

+24% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Grand Forks, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NV)

6.85%

+1.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

None

+2.5 pp in ND

Grand Forks vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Las Vegas?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Las Vegas?: Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).