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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Dakota's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Fargo at index 64, where median rent of $1,096/month saves renters $9,588/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Fargo — cost index 64, rent $1,096/mo, income $66,029
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Dakota's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Fargo at index 64, where median rent of $1,096/month saves renters $9,588/year versus the national median.
So, Fargo. Cost index of 64, rent at $1,096/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $66,029, which is below the national median. No major red flags in that number.
One more layer before the full breakdown: State context matters: North Dakota's 1 cities average a 64 cost index with $1,096/month median rent and $66,029 household income. Oil-patch wages in a low-cost market. In the comparison grid, two cities swap places when you switch from rent to total cost.
Bottom line: Fargo leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
What does daily life actually cost in Fargo? Start with the 20% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 64) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 93) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,029 and homes at $312,872 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Fargo ranks #1 in North Dakota for this analysis with a cost index of 64 and median income of $66,029.
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.
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.