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

Which city costs less?

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

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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1.11/month in East Grand Forks, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,013 in East Grand Forks, MN

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

Valley Center, KS

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

East Grand Forks, MN

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

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Valley Center, KS

The Sunflower State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

East Grand Forks, MN

The North Star State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

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
↑ 19.8%
Valley Center, KS
$1,886
East Grand Forks, MN
$2,260
Difference
$374
more
Other
↓ 14.8%
Valley Center, KS
$1,863
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,588
Difference
$276
less
Transportation
↓ 9.6%
Valley Center, KS
$1,365
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,234
Difference
$131
less
Healthcare
↑ 15.2%
Valley Center, KS
$692
East Grand Forks, MN
$797
Difference
$105
more
All Utilities
↓ 15.8%
Valley Center, KS
$636
East Grand Forks, MN
$536
Difference
$100
less
Groceries
↑ 2.7%
Valley Center, KS
$1,057
East Grand Forks, MN
$1,086
Difference
$28.73
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$760
To$780
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$830
To$790
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,070
To$990
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,380
↓ $30.00
Valley Center, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

East Grand Forks, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Valley Center, KS
$7,501
Monthly in East Grand Forks, MN
$1.11
Difference

Home Values

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

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

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$168
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

Valley Center, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

East Grand Forks, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

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

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

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in East Grand Forks, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Valley Center, KS. 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 Valley Center to East Grand Forks moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

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

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

East Grand Forks, MN has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% lower than Valley Center, KS. 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 Valley Center, KS, the model estimates $150,013 in East Grand Forks, MN. 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 Valley Center, KS and East Grand Forks, MN?

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

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