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Cost of Living in North Dakota

2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 104 cities in North Dakota.

90.4
Avg COL Index
104
Cities Ranked
$137,666
Avg Home Value
All States Salaries in North Dakota COL-Adjusted Salaries After-Tax Pay

Housing Market

$137,666

Average median home value across North Dakota cities.

Rental Market

Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in North Dakota.

Affordability

Below Average

COL index 90.4 vs. national average of 100. Your dollar goes further here.

Most & Least Expensive Cities in North Dakota

Quick look at the cost extremes across North Dakota.

#1 Most Expensive
Briarwood
130.7
Home: $675,000
#2 Most Expensive
Watford City
108.9
Home: $385,100
#3 Most Expensive
North River
107.3
Home: $363,600
#4 Most Expensive
South Heart
105.0
Home: $333,100
#5 Most Expensive
Surrey
102.7
Home: $302,200
#1 Most Affordable
Center
92.8
Home: $170,100
#2 Most Affordable
Manvel
93.9
Home: $184,500
#3 Most Affordable
Tower City
94.3
Home: $189,700
#4 Most Affordable
Dwight
94.4
Home: $191,700
#5 Most Affordable
Tioga
94.8
Home: $196,800

All 20 Major Cities Ranked by Cost of Living

Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.

# City COL Index Affordability Median Home Median Rent
1 Briarwood 130.7 Very Expensive $675,000 N/A
2 Watford City 108.9 Moderate $385,100 N/A
3 North River 107.3 Moderate $363,600 N/A
4 South Heart 105.0 Moderate $333,100 N/A
5 Surrey 102.7 Moderate $302,200 N/A
6 Thompson 100.6 Moderate $274,000 N/A
7 Williston 99.7 Moderate $262,700 N/A
8 Apple Valley CDP 98.7 Moderate $248,800 N/A
9 Burlington 97.9 Moderate $237,800 N/A
10 Taylor 95.7 Moderate $209,100 N/A
11 Bismarck 95.6 Moderate N/A N/A
12 Wilton 95.5 Moderate $206,100 N/A
13 Trenton CDP 95.2 Moderate $202,600 N/A
14 White Shield CDP 95.0 Moderate $200,000 N/A
15 New Town 95.0 Moderate $199,700 N/A
16 Tioga 94.8 Moderate $196,800 N/A
17 Dwight 94.4 Moderate $191,700 N/A
18 Tower City 94.3 Moderate $189,700 N/A
19 Manvel 93.9 Moderate $184,500 N/A
20 Center 92.8 Moderate $170,100 N/A

All 75 Cities in North Dakota

Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What states have the lowest cost of living?

States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.

What is the difference between RPP and COL Index?

RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources

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