Cost of Living in Fargo, ND
Fargo, ND-MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Fargo, ND to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Fargo, ND?
With a price level of 90.9 (U.S. average = 100), Fargo, ND is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 19% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 23% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 9% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Fargo, ND vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | −9.1% |
| Housing | 81.1 | −18.9% |
| Goods | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Utilities | 77.3 | −22.7% |
| Other services | 91.3 | −8.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Fargo, ND
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $768 | $30,720/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $917 | $36,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,112 | $44,480/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,547 | $61,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,865 | $74,600/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Fargo, ND
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Fargo, ND | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,300 | $31,347 |
| $60,000 | $54,500 | $45,971 |
| $80,000 | $72,700 | $59,816 |
| $100,000 | $90,900 | $72,265 |
| $150,000 | $136,300 | $103,028 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Dakota 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Fargo, ND's median wage of $51,050 takes home about $3,600 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $917, which is 25% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,683 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Fargo, ND
- Federal income tax$3,946
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,165
- Medicare (1.45%)$740
- North Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,199
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Fargo, ND
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $96,410 | $76,034 | $83,672 |
| Registered Nurse | $82,120 | $66,259 | $72,916 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| Office Clerks, General | $49,060 | $41,600 | $45,779 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $46,660 | $39,671 | $43,657 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,900 | $35,043 | $38,564 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $37,910 | $32,641 | $35,920 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $37,200 | $32,070 | $35,292 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| Cashier | $33,420 | $29,033 | $31,950 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $30,950 | $27,048 | $29,766 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in North Dakota cities
Half of North Dakota’s 429,430 workers earn less than $52,480 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $38,600–$75,810 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Bismarck, ND stretches a paycheck furthest, while Fargo, ND is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $51,050 | 90.9 | $917 | 25% | $2,683 | $47,538 |
| Bismarck, ND | $52,560 | 91.0 | $1,030 | 28% | $2,671 | $48,791 |
| Grand Forks, ND | $49,760 | 86.7 | $868 | 25% | $2,646 | $48,651 |
| Minot, ND | $48,940 | 87.0 | $948 | 27% | $2,511 | $47,690 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Fargo, ND vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 90.9 | $917 | $51,050 | 148,660 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $982 | $46,660 | 150,580 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 93.6 | $1,229 | $37,930 | 146,260 |
| Gainesville, FL | 96.7 | $1,193 | $47,020 | 152,670 |
| Vallejo, CA | 108.5 | $1,705 | $58,620 | 144,130 |
| Roanoke, VA | 93.6 | $1,020 | $47,140 | 153,980 |
| Hickory, NC | 88.5 | $908 | $45,220 | 154,090 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Fargo, ND expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area are 90.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 81.1%. It is the #274 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Fargo, ND?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,523 in Fargo, ND (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,050.
Can you afford Fargo, ND on the median wage?
A single worker on the $51,050 median wage takes home about $3,600 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $917 would take 25% of that.
How much is rent in Fargo, ND?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Fargo, ND are $768 for a studio, $917 for one bedroom, $1,112 for two bedrooms and $1,547 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Fargo, ND
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $96,410
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,120
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,910
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,950
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,860
- Cashier — $33,420
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $49,060
- Customer Service Representative — $40,900
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $46,660
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,900
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,690