

Moving from Chicago to Grand Forks
Moving from Chicago to Grand Forks: +$430/mo after tax & rent
ChicagoGrand ForksAbout 608 miles apart, a flight.
- Grand Forks leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
$2,856/mo in Grand Forks. $2,426/mo in Chicago. +$5,160 a year.
Chicago
$2,426
left each month
Grand Forks
$2,856
+$430 vs Chicago
Next
Who already made this move
The IRS did not publish a large enough Chicago → Grand Forks pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
See full breakdown
| Per month | Chicago | Grand Forks |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home | $6,079 | $5,571 |
| Rent | $1,782 | $924 |
| All other costs | $1,871 | $1,791 |
| Left over | $2,426 | $2,856 |
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Chicago and Grand Forks 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.
What the move itself costs
About 730 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,350–$4,400
- Container or pod
- $1,650–$3,050
- Rent a truck
- $800–$1,550
Explore more
Other moves from Chicago
Dig into Grand Forks
Questions
Is Grand Forks cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Grand Forks leaves about $430 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $924 in Grand Forks.
Does Grand Forks have state income tax?
Grand Forks is in North Dakota, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Grand Forks?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.