What is the cost of living in Wahpeton, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wahpeton has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Wahpeton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Wahpeton ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Wahpeton ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Wahpeton, check out:
Wahpeton Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wahpeton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wahpeton is 100.
The Groceries index in Wahpeton is 96.
The Health index in Wahpeton is 68.
The Housing index in Wahpeton is 102.
The Transportation index in Wahpeton is 104.
The Utilities index in Wahpeton is 99.
| Living Expense | Wahpeton | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 99 | 100 |
Wahpeton 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
Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton is $229,172.
The Median Rent in Wahpeton is $751.
The Median Income in Wahpeton is $62,750.
The Home Value To Income in Wahpeton is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wahpeton is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Wahpeton | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $229,172 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $751 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,750 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Wahpeton, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Wahpeton Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Wahpeton | 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 Wahpeton Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Wahpeton | 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 Wahpeton Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Wahpeton | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wahpeton Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Wahpeton | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wahpeton Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Wahpeton | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
Wahpeton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wahpeton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wahpeton. 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, 1.1x Wahpeton.
Moorhead, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Wahpeton.
West Fargo, ND has a cost of living index of 109, 1.2x Wahpeton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wahpeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 131,627 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Moorhead, MN | 45,036 | 99 | 1.1x |
| West Fargo, ND | 40,094 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 14,181 | 91 | 1.0x |
