Cost of Living in North Dakota

323 cities | Population: 624,606

Average Cost of Living Index (US = 100)

Median Income: $72,691

Cost of Living in North Dakota: Overview

North Dakota has a cost of living index of 74, making it 26% less expensive than the national average. The statewide median household income is $72,691 (3% below the US median of $75,149). Across 323 cities tracked in North Dakota, costs vary widely depending on location, proximity to metro areas, and local housing markets.

Housing drives most of the variation. The average median rent across North Dakota cities is $755/mo (43% below the national median of $1,319), and the average median home value is $139,144 (54% below the national figure of $304,900). There is a 34-point spread between the most affordable city, Devils Lake (index 66), and the most expensive, Watford City (index 99) — a moderate range typical of states with a mix of urban and rural areas.

North Dakota stands out as a strong value destination: the lower-than-average cost of living paired with near-average or above-average incomes means residents' dollars stretch further here than in most states.

The largest cities in North Dakota by population are Fargo (index 81, pop. 129,064), Bismarck (index 85, pop. 74,146), Grand Forks (index 79, pop. 58,882), Minot (index 80, pop. 47,922), and West Fargo (index 89, pop. 39,325). All of these major cities are above the state average, a pattern common in states where metro areas drive up costs relative to rural communities.

Data: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow, HUD, BEA Regional Price Parities. Updated monthly.

Cost of Living Map

Top 51 cities by population. Click a marker for details.

Most Expensive in North Dakota

1. Watford City (6,016) 99 2. West Fargo (39,325) 89 3. Williston (27,964) 86 4. Bismarck (74,146) 85 5. Mandan (24,293) 83 6. Fargo (129,064) 81 7. Dickinson (25,216) 81 8. Minot (47,922) 80 9. Grand Forks (58,882) 79 10. Jamestown (15,774) 69

Cheapest in North Dakota

1. Devils Lake (7,170) 66 2. Valley City (6,554) 67 3. Wahpeton (7,996) 67 4. Jamestown (15,774) 69 5. Grand Forks (58,882) 79 6. Minot (47,922) 80 7. Dickinson (25,216) 81 8. Fargo (129,064) 81 9. Mandan (24,293) 83 10. Bismarck (74,146) 85

Best Places to Live in North Dakota (2026)

Our data-driven guide ranking the top 15 cities by affordability, income, housing, and climate.

All Cities in North Dakota (323)

City	Population	Cost Index	Median Income	Median Rent	Home Value
Fargo	129,064	81	$66,029	$916/mo	$269,800
Bismarck	74,146	85	$77,608	$992/mo	$291,400
Grand Forks	58,882	79	$63,838	$958/mo	$243,300
Minot	47,922	80	$77,431	$928/mo	$254,400
West Fargo	39,325	89	$96,877	$1,075/mo	$302,200
Williston	27,964	86	$84,309	$1,106/mo	$262,700
Dickinson	25,216	81	$76,964	$963/mo	$252,400
Mandan	24,293	83	$75,966	$1,044/mo	$246,300
Jamestown	15,774	69	$54,809	$741/mo	$192,500
Wahpeton	7,996	67	$57,417	$753/mo	$164,600
Devils Lake	7,170	66	$42,755	$678/mo	$171,000
Valley City	6,554	67	$56,471	$782/mo	$152,800
Watford City	6,016	99	$88,351	$1,210/mo	$385,100
Minot AFB	4,904	99	$65,571	$1,413/mo	—
Lincoln	4,309	90	$83,387	$1,222/mo	$259,400
Grafton	4,128	65	$60,184	$715/mo	$153,800
Horace	3,964	97	$145,801	$963/mo	$444,600
Beulah	3,058	80	$84,417	$1,092/mo	$194,300
New Town	2,725	72	$50,707	$819/mo	$199,700
Casselton	2,640	79	$68,472	$764/mo	$297,500
Rugby	2,555	68	$50,580	$829/mo	$147,800
Hazen	2,509	77	$72,094	$989/mo	$189,300
Lisbon	2,262	67	$61,953	$671/mo	$185,700
Carrington	2,171	65	$65,469	$743/mo	$141,800
Stanley	2,089	85	$105,893	$1,120/mo	$241,300
Grand Forks AFB	2,072	104	$72,279	$1,621/mo	—
Bottineau	2,063	68	$70,882	$770/mo	$165,300
Mayville	2,050	72	$64,044	$828/mo	$196,200
Oakes	2,046	67	$64,750	$740/mo	$160,100
Langdon	1,835	64	$63,664	$741/mo	$130,400
Belcourt	1,739	64	$64,526	$843/mo	$94,300
Harvey	1,720	60	$42,368	$631/mo	$118,000
Surrey	1,672	81	$105,125	$846/mo	$302,200
Hillsboro	1,643	65	$77,844	$645/mo	$180,800
Tioga	1,525	78	$62,315	$1,005/mo	$196,800
Bowman	1,523	73	$70,859	$904/mo	$181,300
Park River	1,483	68	$76,080	$892/mo	$118,600
Garrison	1,456	65	$68,646	$625/mo	$181,800
Washburn	1,434	74	$75,729	$804/mo	$226,200
New Rockford	1,325	57	$47,969	$584/mo	$101,400
Cavalier	1,304	69	$57,188	$829/mo	$155,500
Larimore	1,262	65	$78,846	$677/mo	$180,200
Mapleton	1,243	95	$116,364	—	$285,500
Cando	1,199	66	$49,375	$740/mo	$149,300
Burlington	1,169	81	$95,216	$988/mo	$237,800
Rolla	1,164	62	$52,841	$695/mo	$121,500
Hettinger	1,141	55	$50,750	$498/mo	$112,600
Crosby	1,116	71	$80,000	$1,023/mo	$111,800
Shell Valley	1,112	47	$43,281	$377/mo	$55,200
Thompson	1,092	74	$110,909	$706/mo	$274,000
Kenmare	1,027	66	$64,167	$815/mo	$122,000
Velva	997	71	$81,354	$755/mo	$208,700
Enderlin	987	67	$70,625	$854/mo	$120,800
Parshall	957	63	$42,500	$711/mo	$121,700
Ellendale	946	64	$40,000	$786/mo	$115,900
Northwood	941	69	$76,875	$750/mo	$200,500
Beach	933	68	$60,074	$867/mo	$124,700
Fort Totten	930	67	$28,750	$363/mo	—
Walhalla	927	59	$30,774	$644/mo	$100,300
Kindred	927	75	$103,542	$658/mo	$291,100
Wishek	922	61	$65,357	$712/mo	$103,300
Green Acres	914	69	$46,429	$436/mo	—
Cooperstown	910	56	$51,932	$539/mo	$108,300
New Salem	904	72	$69,750	$866/mo	$173,400
Reile's Acres	888	109	$198,333	—	$455,900
Killdeer	879	79	$89,583	$848/mo	$271,900
Gwinner	877	71	$66,071	$912/mo	$151,900
Linton	871	54	$50,833	$536/mo	$87,400
Cannon Ball	859	56	$33,542	$458/mo	$128,100
Dunseith	853	51	$51,004	$517/mo	$49,300
Drayton	818	57	$70,347	$570/mo	$103,800
Harwood	775	96	$145,000	—	$303,600
Napoleon	768	64	$68,068	$850/mo	$85,000
Hankinson	768	55	$66,250	$533/mo	$100,700
Ray	762	78	$69,792	$971/mo	$211,500
Richardton	761	64	$69,844	$576/mo	$188,900
Steele	742	68	$63,000	$786/mo	$160,300
Hebron	739	66	$60,114	$873/mo	$104,600
Mott	738	77	$51,964	—	$77,500
LaMoure	703	67	$65,625	$775/mo	$150,800
Underwood	701	69	$71,625	$718/mo	$196,300
Lidgerwood	673	59	$49,750	$697/mo	$81,100
Edgeley	672	55	$45,556	$518/mo	$99,100
Glen Ullin	662	63	$48,558	$750/mo	$105,500
New England	658	69	$74,375	$861/mo	$143,300
Elgin	654	60	$40,000	$649/mo	$111,400
Hatton	639	62	$72,885	$675/mo	$133,700
Milnor	638	62	$80,417	$638/mo	$142,600
Ashley	636	53	$39,519	$581/mo	$57,900
Lakota	629	62	$63,672	$616/mo	$145,700
Forman	622	64	$71,607	$730/mo	$133,300
Belfield	618	67	$46,417	$675/mo	$185,000
Minto	616	58	$71,071	$650/mo	$94,600
Mohall	614	63	$61,667	$613/mo	$167,000
Mandaree	604	62	$64,063	$747/mo	$104,200
Pembina	583	62	$88,523	$675/mo	$133,700
Wilton	582	74	$83,750	$838/mo	$206,100
Argusville	568	100	$160,089	—	$350,000
Stanton	560	80	$57,222	—	$111,200
South Heart	556	78	$138,780	$636/mo	$333,100
Wyndmere	553	84	$85,197	—	$156,700
Portland	548	63	$100,714	$506/mo	$204,500
Strasburg	523	55	$46,750	$541/mo	$92,700
Center	510	85	$74,464	—	$170,100
Turtle Lake	502	65	$57,250	$779/mo	$123,900
Leeds	487	57	$73,750	$624/mo	$82,900
Fessenden	477	55	$65,125	$605/mo	$73,300
Kulm	476	59	$69,318	$742/mo	$71,000
Glenburn	466	81	$80,000	$1,172/mo	$180,600
Towner	466	79	$53,333	—	$93,300
Trenton	464	67	$99,531	$639/mo	$202,600
Berthold	444	65	$90,972	$547/mo	$209,100
Maddock	425	51	$45,625	$528/mo	$46,300
Manvel	413	80	$89,500	$1,136/mo	$184,500
Scranton	408	63	$91,250	$775/mo	$109,700
Gilby	401	61	$85,625	$788/mo	$84,500
Halliday	396	72	$64,464	$1,069/mo	$106,900
Emerado	391	64	$65,795	$725/mo	$142,900
Reynolds	367	94	$86,875	$1,750/mo	$137,500
Dunn Center	366	72	$96,042	$972/mo	$145,800
Oxbow	361	119	$172,083	—	$582,100
Arthur	357	67	$84,722	$629/mo	$209,700
Buxton	356	66	$93,750	$688/mo	$173,500
Neche	355	78	$80,625	—	$87,100
Rolette	347	53	$90,179	$404/mo	$120,300
Tower City	345	64	$107,708	$561/mo	$189,700
McVille	338	56	$58,750	$572/mo	$91,900
Westhope	330	80	$54,643	—	$105,000
McClusky	325	48	$44,286	$359/mo	$73,600
Finley	322	56	$74,583	$642/mo	$73,100
Hope	321	60	$53,750	$636/mo	$110,400
Fairmount	316	55	$55,313	$567/mo	$79,300
Plaza	314	80	$81,875	$1,063/mo	$202,500
St. Thomas	306	77	$67,083	—	$74,100
Sawyer	305	94	$65,625	$1,600/mo	$181,300
Walcott	302	81	$93,523	$1,102/mo	$196,400
Powers Lake	292	77	$77,750	$1,074/mo	$165,000
Anamoose	292	59	$64,500	$750/mo	$57,500
Gackle	287	55	$60,000	$517/mo	$103,100
Max	284	62	$73,750	$625/mo	$140,600
Michigan City	278	70	$80,500	$1,044/mo	$89,000
Granville	277	65	$95,000	$825/mo	$103,100
Hoople	277	62	$76,458	$725/mo	$105,400
White Shield	277	64	$65,750	$533/mo	$200,000
Edmore	274	61	$68,274	$843/mo	$55,000
Hunter	271	61	$75,000	$625/mo	$133,000
Alexander	268	101	$135,179	$1,396/mo	$340,300
Bowbells	267	56	$80,938	$525/mo	$113,600
Colfax	265	88	$114,375	—	$202,800
Tappen	264	80	$50,682	$806/mo	—
Carson	260	54	$40,000	$575/mo	$72,000
Munich	258	80	$75,855	—	$111,200
Drake	245	59	$46,875	$713/mo	$76,700
Leonard	244	62	$72,917	$580/mo	$158,100
Medina	242	55	$51,875	$598/mo	$75,000
Golden Valley	241	82	$76,875	—	$135,700
Gladstone	240	73	$105,000	$850/mo	$200,900
Oriska	234	52	$93,750	$494/mo	$77,900
Lansford	234	68	$72,750	$795/mo	$162,500
Abercrombie	231	84	$69,500	—	$156,300
Kensal	229	78	$80,000	—	$90,000
Benedict	227	92	$59,155	—	$250,700
Christine	221	92	$89,107	—	$260,700
Sheyenne	217	49	$46,979	$434/mo	$58,200
Fordville	216	77	$70,000	—	$80,000
Edinburg	215	56	$56,071	$633/mo	$70,000
Davenport	215	89	$83,750	—	$214,300
New Leipzig	215	63	$51,667	$840/mo	$80,000
Sherwood	213	49	$58,438	$458/mo	$47,700
Rhame	213	104	$93,750	$2,083/mo	$121,900
Buffalo	213	62	$99,583	$575/mo	$166,700
Flasher	207	54	$43,984	$581/mo	$58,300
Wing	202	54	$85,568	$525/mo	$86,700
Taylor	193	74	$96,458	$850/mo	$209,100
Harmon	192	101	$99,519	—	$366,200
Apple Valley	191	92	$89,583	—	$248,800
Hazelton	191	65	$54,286	$918/mo	$79,000
Selfridge	190	73	$48,125	$563/mo	—
Riverdale	187	89	$96,667	—	$220,500
Minnewaukan	186	59	$82,895	$638/mo	$102,500
Litchville	183	63	$27,094	$630/mo	$160,000
Mooreton	180	57	$81,667	$488/mo	$131,800
Fingal	179	76	$61,250	—	$59,800
Page	176	55	$75,625	$513/mo	$95,500
Regent	176	61	$56,250	$822/mo	$57,100
Carpio	169	78	$61,250	—	$88,900
Lignite	166	63	$98,125	$817/mo	$91,100
Upham	165	74	$52,500	—	$35,000
Logan	164	96	$74,773	—	—
Des Lacs	161	82	$66,750	—	$133,300
Ross	161	97	$81,328	$1,358/mo	—
Frontier	160	102	$127,813	—	$370,800
Marion	152	58	$90,000	$617/mo	$103,300
Medora	150	64	$68,906	$627/mo	$172,900
Adams	150	57	$65,250	$705/mo	$60,000
Binford	148	48	$32,813	$354/mo	$72,600
Wildrose	147	80	$92,727	—	$108,900
Fort Yates	142	76	$75,833	—	$65,000
Noonan	139	79	$63,958	—	$93,500
Forest River	139	77	$65,625	—	$86,900
Tolna	139	54	$43,750	$500/mo	$90,000
Grandin	137	59	$79,167	$588/mo	$120,500
Reeder	137	61	$35,250	$850/mo	$46,100
Aneta	137	50	$41,250	$482/mo	$64,700
Epping	136	88	$64,420	—	$208,900
Portal	136	58	$112,031	$678/mo	$78,200
Porcupine	136	79	$80,417	$771/mo	—
Ryder	135	76	$41,250	—	$55,000
East Fairview	134	96	$31,250	—	—
Crary	131	77	$70,000	—	$75,000
Amenia	130	86	$88,500	—	$176,600
Petersburg	129	71	$64,167	$1,042/mo	$98,800
Wimbledon	127	75	$94,167	$631/mo	—
Willow City	126	56	$69,000	$675/mo	$51,700
Osnabrock	124	68	$35,083	$1,094/mo	$50,600
Deering	123	80	$68,750	—	$111,200
Sanborn	119	75	$80,357	—	$50,000
Sheldon	118	76	$55,000	—	$55,600
Cogswell	114	50	$60,938	$517/mo	$45,300
Verona	114	76	$80,938	—	$61,700
Lankin	113	77	$63,438	—	$71,000
Pick City	113	64	$58,500	$683/mo	$145,800
Fort Ransom	112	88	$78,750	—	$212,500
Pisek	108	74	$51,563	—	$41,300
Rocklake	106	54	$54,375	$560/mo	$68,300
Ruthville	103	96	$43,750	—	—
Montpelier	101	76	$71,607	—	$65,700
Golva	98	55	$47,500	$433/mo	$127,500
Goodrich	97	54	$76,458	$613/mo	$47,800
Egeland	97	96	$26,250	—	—
Streeter	96	76	$40,341	—	$57,200
Sykeston	96	75	$43,125	—	$53,800
Menoken	95	95	$108,125	—	$283,300
Maxbass	92	74	$53,750	—	$36,700
Rutland	92	52	$94,167	$463/mo	$85,000
Buchanan	92	89	$105,357	—	$225,000
Hannaford	90	50	$55,625	$470/mo	$58,100
Marmarth	88	75	$65,000	—	$43,300
Bisbee	87	67	$83,393	$375/mo	—
White Earth	85	96	$63,929	—	—
Solen	85	73	$26,250	—	$20,800
Douglas	84	75	$66,250	—	$52,500
Regan	83	80	$73,250	—	$108,800
Newburg	83	55	$86,875	$522/mo	$97,500
Warwick	82	76	$55,625	—	$55,000
Cleveland	81	82	$49,063	$871/mo	—
Donnybrook	79	79	$47,500	—	$95,000
Kathryn	78	77	$39,500	—	$75,000
Pingree	77	80	$81,250	—	$114,300
Gardner	76	91	$118,750	—	$243,800
Coleharbor	76	96	$81,250	—	—
Makoti	75	56	$60,000	$608/mo	$81,000
Fortuna	74	74	$2,499	—	$31,800
Havana	74	79	$108,594	—	$96,900
Selz	71	75	$73,958	—	$44,100
Dazey	70	96	$41,136	—	—
North River	67	101	$156,250	—	$363,600
Lehr	66	75	$38,333	—	$50,000
Martin	66	78	$51,250	—	$82,100
Tuttle	63	96	$42,656	—	—
Butte	62	96	$49,583	—	—
Pekin	61	61	$58,125	$825/mo	$60,000
Sentinel Butte	61	96	$40,625	—	—
Fullerton	60	77	$105,000	—	$73,300
Landa	60	96	$137,841	—	—
Luverne	59	96	$88,750	—	—
McHenry	58	96	$2,499	—	—
Galesburg	57	84	$89,167	—	$154,500
Clifford	56	77	$86,250	—	$77,500
Balta	56	78	$30,625	—	$84,400
Bucyrus	55	96	$153,500	—	—
Robinson	53	96	$58,750	—	—
Grace City	53	96	$52,083	—	—
Driscoll	52	79	$43,438	—	$92,800
Alamo	50	80	$55,781	—	$112,500
Prairie Rose	50	101	$123,750	—	$361,100
Briarwood	49	127	$181,250	—	$675,000
Mantador	49	96	$53,594	—	—
Glenfield	48	54	$40,625	$625/mo	$46,300
Barney	48	78	$56,250	—	$81,700
Nome	47	75	$71,429	—	$45,000
Columbus	47	80	$95,000	—	$112,500
Berlin	45	75	$126,250	—	$47,200
Souris	44	96	$47,000	—	—
Erie	44	96	$143,333	—	—
Pettibone	42	74	$25,000	—	$33,400
Dickey	42	78	$61,000	—	$82,500
Woodworth	42	69	$49,583	$435/mo	—
Brocket	41	96	$98,750	—	—
Knox	39	83	$67,813	—	$141,100
Dwight	38	87	$133,750	—	$191,700
Milton	38	77	$96,875	—	$76,300
Jud	37	77	$86,250	—	$71,700
Hamilton	37	74	$94,000	—	$41,400
Rogers	35	76	$103,750	—	$66,000
Cayuga	31	96	$70,625	—	—
Springbrook	30	96	$250,001	—	—
Haynes	30	76	$51,417	—	$56,300
Hurdsfield	28	96	$96,250	—	—
Great Bend	28	76	$59,750	—	$65,000
Courtenay	27	78	$57,500	—	$84,000
Alsen	27	96	$83,125	—	—
Ambrose	26	96	$77,000	—	—
Flaxton	24	74	$23,750	—	$38,500
Niagara	24	78	$67,000	—	$92,500
Forbes	23	96	$97,000	—	—
Fairdale	23	73	$28,125	—	$18,800
Nekoma	22	76	$130,625	—	$62,500
De Lamere	21	77	$63,438	—	$75,000
Leal	20	96	$70,000	—	—
Sibley	19	84	$51,250	—	$162,500
Ludden	19	80	$114,688	—	$112,500
Antler	17	74	$35,000	—	$36,300
Hansboro	16	96	$28,125	—	—
Calvin	15	76	$126,250	—	$65,000
Leith	15	96	$47,000	—	—
Gascoyne	15	89	$118,750	—	$225,000
Braddock	14	74	$57,500	—	$37,500
Calio	13	96	$159,167	—	—
Conway	12	95	$50,000	—	—
Hannah	12	96	$2,499	—	—
Raleigh	9	72	$103,750	—	$9,999
Hamberg	8	96	$66,250	—	—