What is the cost of living in Dickinson, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dickinson has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Dickinson has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Dickinson ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Dickinson ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Dickinson, check out:
Dickinson Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dickinson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dickinson is 97.
The Groceries index in Dickinson is 97.
The Health index in Dickinson is 121.
The Housing index in Dickinson is 95.
The Transportation index in Dickinson is 104.
The Utilities index in Dickinson is 97.
| Living Expense | Dickinson | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 99 | 100 |
Dickinson Cost Of Living Compared To North Dakota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Dakota, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Dakota
- Most Affordable Cities In North Dakota
- Average Rent In North Dakota
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dickinson, ND Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Dakota, 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 Dickinson is $319,458.
The Median Rent in Dickinson is $957.
The Median Income in Dickinson is $82,696.
The Home Value To Income in Dickinson is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dickinson is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Dickinson | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $319,458 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $957 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,696 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Dickinson, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Dickinson Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Dickinson | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.1 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $42.24 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dickinson Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Dickinson | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.29 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.39 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.56 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.05 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dickinson Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Dickinson | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.31 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dickinson Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Dickinson | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.6 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dickinson Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Dickinson | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $166.66 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.28 | $192.25 |
