Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Springfield, MO, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 28% higher in Grand Forks, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$784
$760
+3% in Grand Forks, ND
1 Bedroom
$761
$772
+1% in Springfield, MO
2 Bedroom
$947
$926
+2% in Grand Forks, ND
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,158
+16% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$165,200
+32% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$45,984
+28% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$45,780
+8% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
33.6 yr
+4.2 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
46.5%
42.9%
+3.6 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
30.3%
+8.9 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
14.8 min
18.0 min
+3.2 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
1,189.8
+230% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,290.6
4,231.6
+85% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+16.3°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
45.6 in
+24.8 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.2
+15% in Springfield, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$28.78
+58% in Springfield, MO

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 / MO)
5%
4.225%
+0.8 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
4.70%
+2.2 pp in MO

Grand Forks vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Springfield?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Springfield, MO's $970, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Springfield?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).