

Grand Forks vs Minneapolis
$90/mo less in Minneapolis
Grand ForksMinneapolisAbout 254 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Minneapolis costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,756/mo in Minneapolis. $2,846/mo in Grand Forks. −$1,080 a year.
Grand Forks
$2,846
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,756
−$90 vs Grand Forks
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 205 households moved Grand Forks → Minneapolis (avg AGI $60,454). 62 went the other way. The whole move →
−$90 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Grand Forks | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,958 | $8,269 | +$1,311 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,398 | $2,193 | +$796 |
| Take-home pay | $5,561 | $6,076 | +$515 |
| Rent | $924 | $1,366 | +$442 |
| Getting around | $525 | $504 | −$21 |
| Groceries | $349 | $400 | +$51 |
| Healthcare | $393 | $450 | +$57 |
| Utilities | $218 | $250 | +$32 |
| Everything else | $306 | $350 | +$44 |
| Left over | $2,846 | $2,756 | −$90 |
Salary to match Grand Forks
$101,000
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $83,500 in Grand Forks.
Tax difference
−$4,886
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 20.1% in Grand Forks, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
Grand Forks, ND in full
State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,100 and 186 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Grand Forks →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Grand Forks?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $90 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $924 in Grand Forks and $1,366 in Minneapolis.
Does Minneapolis have state income tax?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Grand Forks to Minneapolis?
The paycheck is taxed in Minnesota. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Grand Forks and Minneapolis changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.