What does a Registered Nurse salary really buy you in North Dakota?
North Dakota is 11.3% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.7, meaning prices are 11.3% lower the national average. A Registered Nurse earning $78,260 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $88,229 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $65,770 | $74,148 | +$8,378 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $67,490 | $76,087 | +$8,597 |
| Median (P50) | $78,260 | $88,229 | +$9,969 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $86,050 | $97,012 | +$10,962 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $99,540 | $112,220 | +$12,680 |
A Registered Nurse in North Dakota earns $78,260 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $88,229 in an average-cost state. This makes North Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Registered Nurse salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #33 out of 50 states for Registered Nurse after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Registered Nurse in North Dakota earns a median salary of $78,260 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $88,229 — a +12.7% difference.
North Dakota's cost of living is 11.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Dakota is 88.7 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Registered Nurse in North Dakota: $78,260 x (100 / 88.7) = $88,229. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Registered Nurse in North Dakota enjoys 12.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.