West Fargo, ND Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In West Fargo, ND Summary

Cost of living in West Fargo 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 West Fargo 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 West Fargo is 105, with 100 being the average.

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

  • West Fargo ranks as the #11 cheapest in North Dakota out of 13.

  • West Fargo ranks as the #3,177 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in West Fargo is $353,547.

  • The median income in West Fargo is $96,877.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
105
West Fargo's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

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 105, 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 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.

The standard of living in West Fargo ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies West Fargo ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.

For more reading on life in West Fargo, check out:

11 out of 13
In North Dakota
3,177 out of 6,489
In America

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 fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in West Fargo is 90.

  • The Groceries index in West Fargo is 95.

  • The Health index in West Fargo is 103.

  • The Housing index in West Fargo is 121.

  • The Transportation index in West Fargo is 97.

  • The Utilities index in West Fargo is 107.

Living Expense West Fargo North Dakota National Average
Overall 105 94 100
Services 90 96 100
Groceries 95 93 100
Health 103 111 100
Housing 121 87 100
Transportation 97 101 100
Utilities 107 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Dakota, check out:
West Fargo Cost of Living Vs. ND

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in West Fargo is $353,547.

  • The Median Rent in West Fargo is $1,075.

  • The Median Income in West Fargo is $96,877.

  • The Home Value To Income in West Fargo is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in West Fargo is 0.13x.

Statistic West Fargo North Dakota United States
Median Home Value $353,547 $281,608 $303,400
Median Rent $1,075 $934 $1,348
Median Income $96,877 $75,949 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.13x 0.15x 0.21x
$353,547
Median Home Value
$1,075
Median Rent
$96,877
Median Income

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

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
5
Safety
7
Amenities
8.5
Education
9
Commute
9

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 101, 1.0x West Fargo.

  • Moorhead, MN has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x West Fargo.

  • Wahpeton, ND has a cost of living index of 87, 0.8x West Fargo.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. West Fargo
Fargo, ND 129,064 101 1.0x
Moorhead, MN 44,706 97 0.9x
Wahpeton, ND 7,996 87 0.8x

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