What is the cost of living in Williston, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Williston has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Williston has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Williston ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Williston ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Williston, check out:
Williston Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Williston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Williston is 99.
The Groceries index in Williston is 100.
The Health index in Williston is 128.
The Housing index in Williston is 101.
The Transportation index in Williston is 104.
The Utilities index in Williston is 97.
| Living Expense | Williston | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 128 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 99 | 100 |
Williston 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
Williston, 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 Williston is $365,978.
The Median Rent in Williston is $1,122.
The Median Income in Williston is $79,381.
The Home Value To Income in Williston is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Williston is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Williston | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $365,978 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,122 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,381 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Williston, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Williston Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Williston | 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 Williston Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Williston | 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 Williston Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Williston | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.01 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.95 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $135.25 | $113.29 |
Detailed Williston Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Williston | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.4 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.21 | $59.92 |
Detailed Williston Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Williston | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.52 | $192.25 |
Williston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Williston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Williston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sidney, MT has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Williston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney, MT | 6,171 | 102 | 0.9x |
