Cost of Living in Minot, ND
Minot, ND — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Minot, ND to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Minot, ND?
With a price level of 87.0 (U.S. average = 100), Minot, ND is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 37% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 27% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 9% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Minot, ND vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.0 | −13.0% |
| Housing | 63.2 | −36.8% |
| Goods | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Utilities | 72.9 | −27.1% |
| Other services | 91.2 | −8.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Minot, ND
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $800 | $32,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $948 | $37,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,151 | $46,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,595 | $63,800/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,923 | $76,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Minot, 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 Minot, ND | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,800 | $30,142 |
| $60,000 | $52,200 | $44,123 |
| $80,000 | $69,600 | $57,696 |
| $100,000 | $87,000 | $69,597 |
| $150,000 | $130,500 | $99,177 |
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 Minot, ND's median wage of $48,940 takes home about $3,459 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $948, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,511 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Minot, ND
- Federal income tax$3,693
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,034
- Medicare (1.45%)$710
- North Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,503
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
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.
Minot, ND vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | 87.0 | $948 | $48,940 | 33,260 |
| Gadsden, AL | 85.7 | $792 | $36,660 | 33,220 |
| Elmira, NY | 94.4 | $978 | $47,850 | 33,600 |
| Bay City, MI | 91.9 | $814 | $45,620 | 33,810 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 89.2 | $1,111 | $47,050 | 33,970 |
| Sumter, SC | 88.0 | $972 | $42,890 | 34,560 |
| Carson City, NV | 98.1 | $1,212 | $56,680 | 31,940 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Minot, ND expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Minot, ND metro area are 87.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 63.2%. It is the #354 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Minot, ND?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,217 in Minot, ND (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,940.
Can you afford Minot, ND on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,940 median wage takes home about $3,459 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $948 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Minot, ND?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Minot, ND are $800 for a studio, $948 for one bedroom, $1,151 for two bedrooms and $1,595 for three bedrooms, including utilities.