Grand Forks, ND at a glance
Median household income
$63,627$5,302 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Grand Forks, ND?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Grand Forks, ND? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $863 | $10,356 | $34,520 | 16.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $868 | $10,416 | $34,720 | 16.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,089 | $13,068 | $43,560 | 20.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,515 | $18,180 | $60,600 | 28.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,827 | $21,924 | $73,080 | 34.5% |
What a typical income covers in Grand Forks, ND
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $63,627 a year ($5,302 a month before tax).
What $63,627 leaves after North Dakota taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Dakota tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Dakota
Living in Grand Forks, ND: common questions
What is the median household income in Grand Forks, ND?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Grand Forks, ND is $63,627 per year (approximately $5,302 per month).
What is the average rent in Grand Forks, ND?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $863 for a studio, $868 for one bedroom, $1,089 for two, $1,515 for three and $1,827 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Grand Forks, ND expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Grand Forks, ND?
To keep a $1,089 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $43,560 a year, or $3,630 a month. That is 68% of what the typical household in Grand Forks, ND earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Grand Forks, ND?
On the local median income of $63,627 ($5,302 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,651 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,591 for everything else and $1,060 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,089 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Grand Forks, ND?
Homes in North Dakota paid 14.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $127. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.