What is the cost of living in West Fargo, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Fargo has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, West Fargo has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in West Fargo ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies West Fargo ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in West Fargo, check out:
West Fargo Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Fargo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Fargo is 101.
The Groceries index in West Fargo is 99.
The Health index in West Fargo is 124.
The Housing index in West Fargo is 96.
The Transportation index in West Fargo is 104.
The Utilities index in West Fargo is 101.
| Living Expense | West Fargo | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 124 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | 100 |
West 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
West 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 West Fargo is $348,750.
The Median Rent in West Fargo is $1,111.
The Median Income in West Fargo is $90,665.
The Home Value To Income in West Fargo is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Fargo is 0.15x.
| Statistic | West Fargo | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $348,750 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,111 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,665 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
West Fargo, ND Costs By Category
Detailed West Fargo Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | West 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 West Fargo Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | West 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 West Fargo Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | West Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Fargo Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | West Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Fargo Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | West Fargo | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.52 | $192.25 |
West Fargo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Fargo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Fargo. 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, 0.9x West Fargo.
Moorhead, MN has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x West Fargo.
Wahpeton, ND has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x West Fargo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 131,627 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Moorhead, MN | 45,036 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Wahpeton, ND | 8,010 | 93 | 0.9x |
