Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 17% higher in Madison, WI. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,018
+30% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$761
$1,219
+60% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,432
+51% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,766
+29% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$346,900
+43% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$76,983
+21% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$58,080
+17% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
31.8 yr
+2.4 yr in Madison, WI
Homeownership
46.5%
46.6%
+0.1 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
59.2%
+20.0 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
14.8 min
19.4 min
+4.6 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
259.5
+28% in Grand Forks, ND
Property Crime
2,290.6
1,884.5
+18% 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
46.5°F
+6.5°F in Madison, WI
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
34.5 in
+13.7 in in Madison, WI

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.6
+39% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$18.17
+0% in Grand Forks, ND

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 / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
7.65%
+5.2 pp in WI

Grand Forks vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Madison?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Madison?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).