Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$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 New Haven, CT. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 16% higher in Grand Forks, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,159
+48% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$761
$1,275
+68% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,473
+56% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,636
+19% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$249,000
+2% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$53,771
+16% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$60,060
+21% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
31.9 yr
+2.5 yr in New Haven, CT
Homeownership
46.5%
28.4%
+18.1 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
37.7%
+1.5 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
14.8 min
21.0 min
+6.2 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
536.3
+49% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
2,290.6
3,601.6
+57% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+12.2°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
47.1 in
+26.3 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in New Haven, CT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.3
+72% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$23.33
+28% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Grand Forks, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / CT)
5%
6.35%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
6.99%
+4.5 pp in CT

Grand Forks vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or New Haven?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or New Haven?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).