Bottineau, ND vs Steele, ND

Bottineau, ND and Steele, ND have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.1% difference in their overall index. Bottineau scores 68 while Steele scores 68 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bottineau is $770/month compared to $786/month in Steele — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bottineau has cheaper rent, Steele actually has lower median home values ($160,300 vs $165,300).

Median household income in Bottineau is $70,882 compared to $63,000 in Steele (+12.5%). Bottineau offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bottineau spend roughly 13% of their income on rent, less than the 15% in Steele.