Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
North Dakota is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And roughly speaking, fargo leads at an index of 92 with rent at just $1,096/month — 42% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updat…
#1 Ranked: Fargo — cost index 92, rent $1,096/mo, income $66,029
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
North Dakota is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And roughly speaking, fargo leads at an index of 92 with rent at just $1,096/month — 42% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
In plain English: on a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Fargo ($1,096/mo, 9%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $106,558 to $106,558/year across these top picks (that's pre-tax, of course).
A closer look at Fargo: the cost index of 92 breaks down to a Housing index of 80 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (weakest). Median rent is $1,096/month — 42% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,029, meaning locals spend about 20% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
Fargo is one of the cheaper options here. That alone makes it worth considering. Rent is $1,096/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 92. Income sits at $66,029. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is (that's pre-tax, of course).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Fargo | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $106,558 |
We calculate what percentage of a $150K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Fargo ranks #1 in North Dakota for this analysis with a cost index of 92 and median income of $66,029.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Fargo, rent would consume about 9% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Fargo is $1,096/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $799 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 1.95% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Fargo is approximately $106,558/year ($8,880/month). After median rent of $1,096/month, you'd have roughly $93,406/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Fargo is $312,872, which is 4.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
North Dakota has a 1.95% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.04%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.94%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.