Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Fargo compared to Bismarck? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Fargo | Metric | Bismarck | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Cost of Living Index | 92 | -1.1% |
| $290,000 | Median Home Price | $285,000 | -1.7% |
| $1,073 | Median Monthly Rent | $950 | -11.5% |
| $67,200 | Median Household Income | $68,200 | +1.5% |
| 1.0% | Property Tax Rate | 1.0% | +0.0% |
| 2.5% | Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | +0.0% |
| 17 min | Average Commute | 17 min | +0.0% |
| 30.9 | Median Age | 36.5 | +18.1% |
| 260,000 | Metro Population | 135,000 | -48.1% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Fargo costs $1,793/month (PITI) compared to $1,762/month in Bismarck — a difference of $31/month or $372/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.3x in Fargo versus 4.2x in Bismarck, suggesting Bismarck is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.8 years to save a down payment in Fargo compared to 5.6 years in Bismarck.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Fargo | Bismarck |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $67,200 | $68,200 |
| State Income Tax | $73 | $92 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,233 | $6,453 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,140 | $5,217 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,900/yr | $2,850/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $11,446 (17.0%) | $11,762 (17.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $55,754 | $56,438 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $11,446 in Fargo (17.0% effective) versus $11,762 in Bismarck (17.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $55,754 in Fargo and $56,438 in Bismarck. Property taxes add $2,900/year on the median Fargo home versus $2,850/year in Bismarck.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $67,200 in Fargo (COL 93) and relocate to Bismarck (COL 92), you would need $66,477 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $723 and still maintain your lifestyle in Bismarck.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Fargo is 17 minutes versus 17 minutes in Bismarck, a difference of 0 minutes each way. Both cities have similar unemployment rates around 2.5%. Bismarck skews slightly older with a median age of 36.5 vs 30.9 in Fargo.
Fargo and Bismarck have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 93 and 92 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Fargo is $290,000, which is $5,000 more than Bismarck's median of $285,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,073/month in Fargo vs $950/month in Bismarck, a difference of $123/month or $1,476/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $67,200 salary in Fargo is equivalent to $66,477 in Bismarck. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Fargo's COL index of 93 vs Bismarck's 92. Conversely, $68,200 in Bismarck equals $68,941 in Fargo.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $11,446 (17.0% effective rate) in Fargo vs $11,762 (17.2% effective rate) in Bismarck. Property taxes on the median home are $2,900/year in Fargo (1.0% rate) vs $2,850/year in Bismarck (1.0% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.0% in North Dakota and 5.0% in North Dakota.
Fargo median household income: $67,200/yr. Bismarck median household income: $68,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,073 in Fargo vs $950 in Bismarck. Annualized that is $12,876 vs $11,400.
Bismarck offers a lower cost of living (index 92 vs 93), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Fargo typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Fargo and Bismarck numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Fargo vs Bismarck cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .