Dubuque, IA vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grand Forks, ND has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% lower than Dubuque, IA.

Dubuque, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,100 / month
Grand Forks, ND · modeled 2BR rent: $1,180 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dubuque, IA and Grand Forks, ND using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Dubuque, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $848/month in Grand Forks, ND

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,822 in Grand Forks, ND

Regional cost estimates: Dubuque, IA uses Madison, WI. Grand Forks, ND uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$848

Savings

Annual Impact

$10.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dubuque, IA

Population:59K

Cost Index:

95.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$324K

Grand Forks, ND

Population:59K

Cost Index:

83.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$266K

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Dubuque, IA

The Hawkeye State

59K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 59K residents.

Grand Forks, ND

The Peace Garden State

59K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Dakota, this city has a population of 59K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dubuque, IA vs Grand Forks, ND

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Dubuque, IA	Grand Forks, ND	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,331/mo	$2,027/mo	↓ $305less	13.1%
Other	$1,684/mo	$1,424/mo	↓ $261less	15.5%
Transportation	$1,323/mo	$1,107/mo	↓ $216less	16.3%
All Utilities	$502/mo	$464/mo	↓ $38.31less	7.6%
Healthcare	$710/mo	$690/mo	↓ $20.24less	2.8%
Groceries	$948/mo	$940/mo	↓ $8.45less	0.9%

Housing

↓ 13.1%

Dubuque, IA

$2,331

Grand Forks, ND

$2,027

Difference

$305

less

Other

↓ 15.5%

Dubuque, IA

$1,684

Grand Forks, ND

$1,424

Difference

$261

less

Transportation

↓ 16.3%

Dubuque, IA

$1,323

Grand Forks, ND

$1,107

Difference

$216

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.6%

Dubuque, IA

$502

Grand Forks, ND

$464

Difference

$38.31

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.8%

Dubuque, IA

$710

Grand Forks, ND

$690

Difference

$20.24

less

Groceries

↓ 0.9%

Dubuque, IA

$948

Grand Forks, ND

$940

Difference

$8.45

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$790

To$930

↑ $140

1 Bed

From$860

To$940

↑ $80.00

2 Bed

From$1,100

To$1,180

↑ $80.00

3 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,640

↑ $160

Dubuque, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$910/mo

Grand Forks, NDZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$1,170/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Dubuque, IA

$6,652

Monthly in Grand Forks, ND

$848

Difference

Home Values

Dubuque

Grand Forks

$324K

Median Value

$266K

↑ +5.5%

YoY Change

↑ +7.2%

↑ +34.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +25.5%

$200K - $330K

Price Range

$226K - $306K

Homes in Grand Forks are 18% less expensive than Dubuque

Calculate payment - Dubuque Calculate payment - Grand Forks

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $7.9K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$660

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.3%

Rate difference

Dubuque, IA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Iowa State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.7K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.7K

Take-Home Pay

$8,524/month

$102.3K

Grand Forks, ND

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

North Dakota State Tax

Effective: 1.9%

$2.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 26.5%

$39.8K

Take-Home Pay

$9,184/month

$110.2K

Additional Tax Information

Dubuque, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Grand Forks, ND Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.8%

Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dubuque

Grand Forks

42 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

66.4%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Dubuque, IA to Grand Forks, ND

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Grand Forks, ND for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dubuque, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dubuque to Grand Forks moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Grand Forks, ND by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dubuque, IA vs Grand Forks, ND

How do the cost estimates for Dubuque, IA and Grand Forks, ND compare?

Grand Forks, ND has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% lower than Dubuque, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dubuque, IA, the model estimates $139,822 in Grand Forks, ND. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dubuque, IA and Grand Forks, ND?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Dubuque, IA and $1,180/month in Grand Forks, ND. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and North Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com