Cost of living in North Dakota
Prices in North Dakota are 11.0% below the US average (44th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $182 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5%.
Price levels in North Dakota
| BEA RPP 2024 | North Dakota | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Goods | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | −28.6% |
| Utilities | 73.7 | −26.3% |
| Other services | 91.2 | −8.8% |
Metros in North Dakota
Metros whose principal city is in North Dakota. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | 269,528 | 90.9 | $1,104 | $214 | $1,752 |
| Bismarck, ND | 139,750 | 91.0 | $1,067 | $221 | $1,728 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 105,046 | 86.7 | $1,014 | $212 | $1,833 |
| Minot, ND | 75,694 | 87.0 | $1,049 | $220 | $1,791 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in North Dakota (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| North Dakota income tax | $0 | $182 | $1,059 | $98 |
| North Dakota payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,530 | $5,118 | $7,683 | $8,757 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, North Dakota’s income and payroll taxes cost $182 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across North Dakota
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $209 | $13,254 | $153 |
| Toddler (2) | $190 | $12,100 | $145 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $177 | $11,220 | $146 |
| School-age (5–12) | $172 | $10,917 | $150 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $195 a week in Eddy County to $240 in Divide County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 53 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | $298,000 | $3,564 | 1.20% |
| Grand Forks County | $252,700 | $2,900 | 1.15% |
| Ward County | $267,100 | $2,859 | 1.07% |
| Morton County | $263,900 | $2,686 | 1.02% |
| Burleigh County | $324,000 | $2,863 | 0.88% |
| Renville County | $166,000 | $1,128 | 0.68% |
| McHenry County | $151,000 | $994 | 0.66% |
| Oliver County | $215,700 | $1,343 | 0.62% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from North Dakota
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 27,062 in, 19,530 out (net +7,532).
- Minnesota6,171 ±1,506
- South Dakota1,850 ±1,046
- Texas1,462 ±1,313
- Arizona916 ±603
- Florida901 ±496
- Nevada880 ±724
- South Carolina686 ±930
- Nebraska630 ±606
Frequently asked questions
Is North Dakota expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put North Dakota’s overall price level at 89.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 44th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 71.4 and goods 95.7.
Does North Dakota have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $182 in North Dakota income tax under 2026 law (0.2% of pay).
What is the sales tax in North Dakota?+
The state rate is 5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in North Dakota?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Grand Forks, ND-MN leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,833), and Bismarck, ND the least ($1,728).