Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 20% higher in Minneapolis, MN. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$784
$992
+27% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$761
$1,192
+57% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,555
+64% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,761
+28% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$345,600
+42% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$80,269
+26% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$59,320
+19% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
33.0 yr
+3.6 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
46.5%
48.0%
+1.5 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
54.5%
+15.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
14.8 min
22.5 min
+7.7 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
1,168.5
+224% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
2,290.6
5,183.1
+126% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+7.4°F in Minneapolis, MN
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
32.8 in
+12.0 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.96/gal
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$14.79
+19% 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 / MN)
5%
6.875%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
9.85%
+7.3 pp in MN

Grand Forks vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Minneapolis?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Minneapolis?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).