Watford City, ND Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Watford City, ND Summary

Cost of living in Watford City research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Watford City is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Dakota, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Watford City is 113, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Watford City is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Watford City ranks as the #13 cheapest in North Dakota out of 13.

  • Watford City ranks as the #3,948 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Watford City is $377,120.

  • The median income in Watford City is $88,351.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
113
Watford City's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Watford City, ND?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Watford City has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Dakota, Watford City has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.

The standard of living in Watford City ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Watford City ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.

For more reading on life in Watford City, check out:

13 out of 13
In North Dakota
3,948 out of 6,489
In America

Watford City Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Watford City. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Watford City is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Watford City is 90.

  • The Health index in Watford City is 117.

  • The Housing index in Watford City is 145.

  • The Transportation index in Watford City is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Watford City is 99.

Living Expense Watford City North Dakota National Average
Overall 113 94 100
Services 99 96 100
Groceries 90 93 100
Health 117 111 100
Housing 145 87 100
Transportation 105 101 100
Utilities 99 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Dakota, check out:
Watford City Cost of Living Vs. ND

Watford City, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Watford City is $377,120.

  • The Median Rent in Watford City is $1,210.

  • The Median Income in Watford City is $88,351.

  • The Home Value To Income in Watford City is 4.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Watford City is 0.16x.

Statistic Watford City North Dakota United States
Median Home Value $377,120 $281,608 $303,400
Median Rent $1,210 $934 $1,348
Median Income $88,351 $75,949 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.3x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.15x 0.21x
$377,120
Median Home Value
$1,210
Median Rent
$88,351
Median Income

Watford City, ND Costs By Category

Detailed Watford City Services Costs Vs. North Dakota

Item Watford City North Dakota
Shampoo $1.12 $1.28
Movie $12.67 $12.13
Bowling $7.5 $18
Haircut $19.55 $24.26
Beauty Salon $47.78 $45.56

Detailed Watford City Groceries Costs Vs. North Dakota

Item Watford City North Dakota
Ground Beef $5.62 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.48 $4.67
Potatoes $4.65 $4.93
Pizza $12.31 $12.09
Beer $10.75 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.74 $3.7

Detailed Watford City Health Costs Vs. North Dakota

Item Watford City North Dakota
Optometrist $140.01 $125.68
Doctor $166.95 $135.78
Dentist $135.25 $113.29

Detailed Watford City Transportation Costs Vs. North Dakota

Item Watford City North Dakota
Gasoline $3.4 $3.46
Tire Balancing $71.21 $59.92

Detailed Watford City Utilities Costs Vs. North Dakota

Item Watford City North Dakota
All Electricity $182.72 $193.99
Phone $194.52 $192.25

Watford City SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
8
Education
8
Commute
9

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