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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. 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.
#1 Ranked: Fargo — cost index 92, rent $1,096/mo, income $66,029
0 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K 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. 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.
Dive into Fargo's numbers: cost index 92 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (20 points below national average), rent $1,096/month, income $66,029, and a home price of $312,872. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 80, while Healthcare runs 95. With 133,188 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
On a $40K salary, the key number is $1,000/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Fargo ($1,096/mo, 33%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $31,592 to $31,592/year across these top picks.
What you won't find on most comparison sites: State context matters: North Dakota's 1 cities average a 92 cost index with $1,096/month median rent and $66,029 household income. Oil-patch wages in a low-cost market. We spotlight the top cities individually below, and #3 is the real story (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
133,188 residents · North Dakota
The #1 spot goes to Fargo, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,096/month — though some people might weigh that differently — — saving renters $9,588 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 80, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. At a 20% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Fargo | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $31,592 |
We calculate what percentage of a $40K 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 $40K salary in Fargo, rent would consume about 33% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $40K in Fargo is approximately $31,592/year ($2,633/month). After median rent of $1,096/month, you'd have roughly $18,440/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.