East Grand Forks, MN vs Montgomery, MN

East Grand Forks is moderately more affordable than Montgomery, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. East Grand Forks scores 77 compared to 82 for Montgomery, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Montgomery can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in East Grand Forks is $872/month compared to $896/month in Montgomery — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while East Grand Forks has cheaper rent, Montgomery actually has lower median home values ($218,900 vs $243,800).

Median household income in East Grand Forks is $74,618 compared to $74,018 in Montgomery (+0.8%). East Grand Forks offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of East Grand Forks spend roughly 14% of their income on rent, less than the 14.5% in Montgomery.