It’s not hard to see why North Dakota claimed 14th place for the best states to live. Its scenic natural landscapes range from the vast expanses of the Great Plains where bison roam to the stark beauty of the Badlands in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Its multicultural cities and towns are full of friendly, Midwestern locals, with vibrant arts scenes, diverse dining, good schools and strong economies. While the summers bring warm weather, winters here bring abundant snow for outdoor fun.
On top of all that, the cost of living in North Dakota is affordable. You’ll find low rents in even its biggest cities and reasonable prices for everything from utilities to food. Knowing more about how the cost of living in North Dakota varies by city can help you find the right city for your budget.
North Dakota housing prices
One of the benefits of living in North Dakota is the affordable housing costs. You can find one- or two-bedroom apartments in the state’s top cities for less than $1,000. In Fargo, the state’s most populous city, the average rent for a one-bedroom is $783. The low rents in this famous, unique city make it one of the cheapest cities in the nation. Smaller cities or towns offer even more affordable options.
Let’s look at the average rent and housing costs in several major North Dakota cities to see how prices vary around the state.
Grand Forks
Located in northeastern North Dakota on the border with Minnesota, Grand Forks is a lively city of 58,781. It’s the third-most-populous city in the state. As the home of the University of North Dakota, it has a charming college town atmosphere, as well as all the trappings of a college town like cultural activities, fun dining and shopping. One of the best features of Grand Forks is the riverfront parks and Greenway paths along the Red River, offering outdoor recreation right in town.
Housing costs in Grand Forks are 8.7 percent below the national average. One-bedroom apartments are available for an average of $845 a month, up 7 percent from last year. You can rent a two-bedroom apartment for $945 a month, up 1 percent from last year.
Minot
With a population of 47,789, Minot is the fourth-most-populous city in North Dakota. Located in the north-central part of the state, it’s best known for being the home of the Minot Air Force Base. It’s also the home of the State Fair. Nearby nature areas like the Bison Plant Trail offer opportunities for outdoor recreation. Around town, residents can explore the city’s Scandinavian roots at the Scandinavian Heritage Association, enjoy the Roosevelt Park Zoo or hang out in city parks.
In Minot, you can find one-bedroom apartments for an average monthly rent of $875 and two-bedroom apartments for $965 a month. These rates are up 1 and 2 percent from the previous year. Overall, housing costs here are 19.1 percent below the national average
North Dakota food prices
Thanks to its diverse immigrant population, dining in North Dakota is a truly globe-trotting experience. You’ll find kuchen from Germany, lefse from Scandinavia and the Russian-Germanic dish fleischkuekle. Many dishes are also centered around local ingredients like walleye fish or the abundant wheat grown here. For those long winters, you’ll find comforting Midwestern staples like knoephla soup and hotdish.
Perhaps due to its remote location, food costs in North Dakota are higher than the national average. Total grocery costs are 2.1 percent above the national average. North Dakotans spend between $233 and $266 per person a month on food. That comes out to between $2,801 and $3,200 a year. That’s about the same as what residents of California and New York spend on food annually.
Depending on where you live in North Dakota, your total food costs are above or below the national and statewide averages:
- Grand Forks is 5.3 percent below the national average
- Minot is 4.1 percent above the national average
Minot is the more expensive city for food prices. A dozen eggs cost $1.74 there compared to $1.44 in Grand Forks. A half-gallon of milk in Minot is $2.69. In Grand Forks, it will only set you back $2.40. But Grand Forks does sometimes have higher food prices. You’ll pay more for ground beef in Grand Forks with a price tag of $4.92 compared to $4.68 in Minot.
North Dakota utility prices
Paying for utilities like electricity and water in North Dakota are close to or below the national average. Although over half of North Dakota’s electricity comes from coal-powered power stations, the state also utilizes renewable energy sources like wind energy and hydroelectric power. The Missouri River is the state’s biggest supplier of water.
Looking at total utility costs, here’s how these cities compare to the national average:
- Grand Forks is 3.2 percent below the national average
- Minot is 0.3 percent below the national average
Grand Forks is the least expensive of the two cities when it comes to energy costs. Residents of Grand Forks will pay around $162.41 for total energy costs each month. In Minot, average energy bills are higher at $171.25.
Water bills in North Dakota are low compared to the national average. While the average water bill nationwide is $68, North Dakota residents pay an average of $24 a month.
North Dakota transportation prices
While expenses for personal vehicles are extremely variable, the good news is that many cities and counties in North Dakota offer public transportation. Every county in North Dakota has some form of mass transit, primarily bus service. Bigger cities generally have more extensive systems with more frequent service. But rural routes are also available for those in outlying counties or towns. Not only does public transportation provide a vital link between communities, but it can help riders save money and it reduces traffic. It’s also more environmentally friendly.
When it comes to transportation costs, you pay above or below the national average depending on where you live in North Dakota:
- Grand Forks is 4.1 percent below the national average
- Minot is 11.5 percent above the national average
Let’s take a closer look at the mass transit options in these two cities:
City Transit in Minot
Consisting of a fleet of buses, City Transit operates six different bus routes around the city of Minot. The buses only run on weekdays, with no weekend service. A one-way ride costs $1.50 and a day pass is $5. You can also purchase 10-ride passes for $10 and a monthly pass for $36. Transfers are free, and reduced rates are available for eligible riders like senior citizens.
With limited bus routes and service, you may need to have your own car to efficiently and easily get around Minot. With a walk score of 32 and a bike score of 35, it’s also not the most walk- and bike-friendly city. Luckily, drivers don’t have to worry about paying tolls. North Dakota doesn’t have any tolled routes.
CAT in Grand Forks
The Cities Area Transit system provides bus service to Grand Forks and the neighboring city of East Grand Forks in Minnesota. It offers routes around the University of North Dakota campus, and staff, faculty and students of the university ride free on all CAT buses. Riders have 13 different routes to choose from around the two cities. Single-ride, one-way fares cost $1.50. A monthly pass costs $35. Transfers are free and reduced fares are available for K-12 students and other eligible riders.
As a college town, the city is slightly more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. Grand Forks’ walk score is 52 and its bike score is 61.
North Dakota healthcare prices
Living in North Dakota, you’re likely to pay above the national average for healthcare. While the location is a contributing factor to healthcare costs, so is your personal health. When viewing average healthcare costs in a particular city or state, it’s important to note that they’re very subjective. It’s difficult to calculate average healthcare costs since these costs vary by person. Some people may pay more for healthcare due to factors like pre-existing conditions. Your personal healthcare costs may vary from your city’s average depending on your health needs.
But to give a ballpark figure of what to expect cost-wise, here’s the average cost to go to the doctor’s office in these cities:
- Minot: $154.40
- Grand Forks: $190
While Grand Forks is the most expensive for general doctor’s check-ups, it’s the opposite for dental care. It costs $80 to go to the dentist in Grand Forks. But in Minot, it costs $102.
Although neither city offers especially low rates, Minot’s total healthcare costs are higher than the national average:
- Grand Forks is 6.8 percent above the national average
- Minot is 12.6 percent above the national average
At the very least, you’ll receive good quality care for the higher prices. North Dakota ranks 27th in the nation for its healthcare. It has good marks for healthcare access, quality and general public health. While its rankings aren’t stellar, they’re solid and point to a functional, accessible healthcare system.
North Dakota goods and services prices
Although paying for the occasional haircut or buying a pizza may seem like small purchases, it does add up over time. Miscellaneous goods and services are an important category to account for in your monthly budget. It covers common items or services you need on a regular basis. This can range from going to the movies to buying toothpaste.
Depending on where you live in North Dakota, you may pay more or less than the national average for miscellaneous goods and services:
- Grand Forks is 10.5 percent below the national average
- Minot is 2.2 percent above the national average
As Minot is above the national average, some prices there are higher. It costs $19 to get a haircut there as opposed to $18 in Grand Forks. Want to go out to the movies? Expect to shell out around $13.29 in Minot for tickets. But in Grand Forks, movie tickets are only $7.56. Buying a pizza will set you back $10.59 in Minot but only $10.49 in Grand Forks. As you can see, for some items the price difference is small, meaning that Grand Forks isn’t necessarily always significantly less expensive for goods and services.
Taxes in North Dakota
Since high taxes can have an impact on your spending and income, it’s important to know what the tax rates are in your state.
North Dakota has a statewide sales tax rate of 5 percent. For every $1,000 you spend in North Dakota, you’ll be paying a minimum of $50 in sales tax on top of that. You may have to pay even more in sales tax because some cities and counties add their own local sales tax as well:
- Minot has a combined tax of 7.5 percent
- Grand Forks has a combined tax of 7.25 percent
Both Minot and Grand Forks have similar sales tax rates, but Minot is slightly more expensive. Living there, you’ll pay $75 in sales tax for every $1,000 spent. In Grand Forks, it’s slightly less at $72.50.
Ranging from 1.1 percent to 2.9 percent, North Dakota’s income taxes are among the lowest in the country.
How much do I need to earn to live in North Dakota?
Overall, the cost of living in North Dakota is close to the national average. Its affordability makes it accessible to a wide range of budgets. But exactly how much do you need to make to afford to live here?
It’s recommended that you only spend 30 percent of your gross monthly income on rent. North Dakota’s average rent is $917. In order for that to only be 30 percent of your gross monthly income, you need to make a minimum of $3,056 a month or $36,672 annually. North Dakota’s median household income is $65,315 and salaries here range from $28,794 to $97,188. So, while households with multiple inhabitants should comfortably afford housing, people living alone that work lower-paying jobs may need to spend more than 30 of their monthly income on rent.
Our handy rent calculator can help you figure out what you can afford to pay in rent based on factors like income, expenses and location.
Living in North Dakota
The low cost of living in North Dakota is a major plus to living here, but it’s far from the only one. Along with affordable rents, this rugged state is ready to impress with its beautiful landscapes, fun cities and abundance of things to do.
The Cost of Living Index comes from coli.org.
The rent information included in this summary is based on a calculation of multifamily rental property inventory on Rent. as of August 2022.
Rent prices are for illustrative purposes only. This information does not constitute a pricing guarantee or financial advice related to the rental market.
Source: rent.com