Austin, MN vs East Grand Forks, MN

Austin is moderately more affordable than East Grand Forks, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Austin scores 72 compared to 77 for East Grand Forks, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of East Grand Forks can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Austin is $860/month compared to $872/month in East Grand Forks — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Austin is more affordable at $155,100 median vs $243,800.

Median household income in Austin is $66,488 compared to $74,618 in East Grand Forks (-10.9%). While East Grand Forks is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Austin spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, more than the 14% in East Grand Forks.