East Grand Forks, MN vs Valley Center, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Valley Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than East Grand Forks, MN.

East Grand Forks, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Valley Center, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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 East Grand Forks, MN and Valley Center, KS 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1.11/month in Valley Center, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,987 in Valley Center, KS

Regional cost estimates: East Grand Forks, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Valley Center, KS uses Wichita, KS. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1.11
Savings
Annual Impact
$13.31
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.

East Grand Forks, MN

Population:9K
Cost Index:
77.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$274K

Valley Center, KS

Population:7K
Cost Index:
78.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$265K

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East Grand Forks, MN

The North Star State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Valley Center, KS

The Sunflower State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: East Grand Forks, MN vs Valley Center, KS

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.

Housing
↓ 16.5%
East Grand Forks, MN
$2,260
Valley Center, KS
$1,886
Difference
$374
less
Other
↑ 17.4%
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,587
Valley Center, KS
$1,863
Difference
$276
more
Transportation
↑ 10.6%
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,234
Valley Center, KS
$1,365
Difference
$131
more
Healthcare
↓ 13.2%
East Grand Forks, MN
$797
Valley Center, KS
$692
Difference
$105
less
All Utilities
↑ 18.7%
East Grand Forks, MN
$536
Valley Center, KS
$636
Difference
$100
more
Groceries
↓ 2.6%
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,085
Valley Center, KS
$1,057
Difference
$28.73
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$760
↓ $20.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$830
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$990
To$1,070
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,410
↑ $30.00
East Grand Forks, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Valley Center, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/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 East Grand Forks, MN
$7,499
Monthly in Valley Center, KS
$1.11
Difference

Home Values

East Grand Forks
Valley Center
$274K
Median Value
$265K
↑ +4.7%
YoY Change
↑ +0.6%
↑ +24.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +32.7%

Homes in Valley Center are 3% less expensive than East Grand Forks

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$168
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

East Grand Forks, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Valley Center, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

East Grand Forks, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Valley Center, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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

East Grand Forks
Valley Center
42 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
66.4%
Good Air Days
75.1%
98 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from East Grand Forks, MN to Valley Center, KS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Valley Center, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in East Grand Forks, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your East Grand Forks to Valley Center moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Valley Center, KS by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: East Grand Forks, MN vs Valley Center, KS

How do the cost estimates for East Grand Forks, MN and Valley Center, KS compare?

Valley Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than East Grand Forks, MN. 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 East Grand Forks, MN, the model estimates $149,987 in Valley Center, KS. 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 East Grand Forks, MN and Valley Center, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in East Grand Forks, MN and $1,070/month in Valley Center, KS. 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 Minnesota and Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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