What is the cost of living in Moorhead, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Moorhead has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Moorhead has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Moorhead ranks as #38 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Moorhead ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Moorhead, check out:
Moorhead Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Moorhead. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Moorhead is 103.
The Groceries index in Moorhead is 97.
The Health index in Moorhead is 102.
The Housing index in Moorhead is 102.
The Transportation index in Moorhead is 104.
The Utilities index in Moorhead is 101.
| Living Expense | Moorhead | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Moorhead Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Moorhead Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Moorhead, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Moorhead is $278,445.
The Median Rent in Moorhead is $1,033.
The Median Income in Moorhead is $72,761.
The Home Value To Income in Moorhead is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Moorhead is 0.17x.
Moorhead, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Moorhead Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Moorhead Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Moorhead Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Moorhead Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Moorhead SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Moorhead
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Moorhead. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fargo, ND has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Moorhead.
West Fargo, ND has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Moorhead.
Detroit Lakes, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Moorhead.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Moorhead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 131,627 | 102 | 1.0x |
| West Fargo, ND | 40,094 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Detroit Lakes, MN | 10,025 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Wahpeton, ND | 8,010 | 93 | 0.9x |
