What is the cost of living in Fargo, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fargo has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Fargo has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Fargo ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Fargo ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Fargo, check out:
Fargo Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fargo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fargo is 98.
The Groceries index in Fargo is 102.
The Health index in Fargo is 111.
The Housing index in Fargo is 101.
The Transportation index in Fargo is 108.
The Utilities index in Fargo is 97.
| Living Expense | Fargo | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 99 | 100 |
Fargo 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
Fargo, 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 Fargo is $314,972.
The Median Rent in Fargo is $946.
The Median Income in Fargo is $66,998.
The Home Value To Income in Fargo is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fargo is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Fargo | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $314,972 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $946 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,998 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Fargo, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Fargo Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $38.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fargo Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.52 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.48 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.11 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.88 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fargo Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fargo Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fargo Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
Fargo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fargo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fargo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Moorhead, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Fargo.
West Fargo, ND has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Fargo.
Detroit Lakes, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Fargo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moorhead, MN | 45,036 | 99 | 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 |
