The cheapest places to live in North Dakota are the talk of the town.
You don’t get named the fastest-growing state in the country if you don’t have super affordable places to live.
We used Saturday Night Science to find North Dakota most affordable places based on housing costs, incomes, and the cost of living based on Census data.
We discovered that if you’re looking to offset your grocery bill with hunting, Grand Forks is the great place to fill that elk or deer tag. Or any other place on this list.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in North Dakota
What’s the cheapest place to live in North Dakota? The cheapest place to live in North Dakota for 2026 is Devils Lake.
More importantly, if you choose to live in one of North Dakota’s cheapest places, you will save money for fun a day trip to Hankinson’s Dakota Magic Casino or a weekend at Devils Lake.
Check out some more reading about North Dakota and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota For 2026
/10
Population: 7,308
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $43,220
Median Home Price: $236,272
Median Rent: $711
Devils Lake offers an unbeatable blend of low living costs with a cost of living index at 90 and housing affordability underscored by its $236,272 average home price. All that combines to be the cheapest city in North Dakota.
The city hasn’t made a deal with the devil either, as its unemployment rate is at 1.74%. You can use the extra money from your job on a boat for Devils Lake State Park.
More on Devils Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,010
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $62,750
Median Home Price: $229,172
Median Rent: $751
What do you get in Wahpeton besides the World’s Largest Catfish? You get an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.1% lower than the North Dakota average. That’s some cheap catfish in one of North Dakota’s cheapest cities.
Wahpeton, an hour south of Fargo on the Minnesota border, has low cost of living index values for utilities, services, and healthcare.
More on Wahpeton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,541
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $60,339
Median Home Price: $195,114
Median Rent: $780
We go from Devils Lake to the Valley of Death of Expenses, Valley City, the third lowest cost of living city in North Dakota.
I really forced that.
Located in Barnes County, an hour west of Fargo, the overall cost of living is 1.1% lower than the North Dakota average. According to Zillow, the average home price is the lowest in the state at $195,114.
More on Valley City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 15,787
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $56,554
Median Home Price: $208,863
Median Rent: $773
Jamestown, located centrally within Stutsman County, is the fourth most affordable city due to its $208,863 average home price, the second lowest in the state. Additionally, the average rent is $773 that ranks at the third most economical statewide.
Jamestown’s home price-to-income ratio is 3.69, meaning you’ll have more of your income to spend on long weekend in Minneapolis.
More on Jamestown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
It’s a small town mostly white middle to upper class then theirs the criminal layer town try’s to keep a perfect image so any criminal offense is cracked down on hard little to no organized crime and those that are they are just avoiding warrants in other states their is a large amount of mostly m**h addicts m**h and marijuana being easy to obtain heroine and other deadlier drugs are almost impossible to obtain with c*****e and acid being somewhere in the middle their has been efforts with the cartel to try and place a larger foothold in the town but most memebers either get caught or leave within a few months with them gradually putting more effort in each operation overdoses are common but almost never reported in the newspapers with an attempt to keep the town looking like a paradise
Safe and peaceful place for most of the people as long as they avoid the m**h addicts and other unsavory things the time I spent there was traumatizing
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Population: 131,627
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $66,998
Median Home Price: $314,972
Median Rent: $946
Fargo, the most populous city in North Dakota, has the fifth lowest cost of living in the Peace Garden State. A 102 overall cost of living index is 8 points lower than the state average.
It’s a rare combination when the biggest city in the state is also one of the most affordable. You get the perks of big-city cheap things like the Fargo Film Festival and Downtown Fargo Street Fair to go with your savings.
More on Fargo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 59,042
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $63,627
Median Home Price: $291,534
Median Rent: $980
In Grand Forks, you can have your knifes, spoons, and forks for every meal because this Red River Valley city ranks sixth cheapest in the state.
is the 3rd largest city where affordability thrives. Housing remains within reach with a $291,534 and $980 that respect the eighth ratio. The local economy boasts a 6th rank in 2.41, reinforcing a budget-friendly environment. Despite mirroring the economic vitality of bigger cities, Grand Forks guarantees its residents can relish a robust $63,627, securing a frugal yet fulfilling existence.
More on Grand Forks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 47,791
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $73,219
Median Home Price: $272,694
Median Rent: $973
In Ward County, Minot is not the small fish in the cost of living sea as it made the list of the cheapest cities in North Dakota in seventh place. In intra-state rankings, home prices and rent will be the most significant factors in comparing living costs; North Dakota is no different.
Minot is home to the Minot Air Force base.
More on Minot: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 25,357
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $82,696
Median Home Price: $319,458
Median Rent: $957
Dickinson is a city in Stark County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Stark County. The population was 17,787 at the 2010 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 2015 population is 23,765.
More on Dickinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 24,522
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $71,780
Median Home Price: $341,688
Median Rent: $1,083
Mandan, centrally located within North Dakota, offers economic stability and affordability with its low $341,688 home prices and $1,083 rents. Home to a population of 24,522, the city has a $71,780 median income.
Mandan’s magic lies in the blend of budget-friendly living with extra room for high-quality lutefisk and knoephla soup.
More on Mandan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 75,556
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $78,387
Median Home Price: $369,558
Median Rent: $999
Bismarck, the tenth most affordable city in North Dakota, has a 4.71 home-price-to-income ratio with an average home value of $369,558. Located in south-central North Dakota, it’s the state’s capital and an economic hub with a cost of living index at 108.
Bismarck is home to the Dakota Zoo and Keelboat Park, both family-friendly attractions.
More on Bismarck: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Currently live in Bismarck. I could only live here or Fargo/West Fargo in this state. I love ND though, and it truly is the best state in the country
Cheapest places to live in North Dakota FAQs
The county in North Dakota with the lowest cost of living is McIntosh County. The average living wage in McIntosh County is $81,422 according to MIT data. McIntosh County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to North Dakota as a whole. Childcare costs $13,020 a year in McIntosh County for two children compared to the North Dakota average of $16,381. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in McIntosh County compared to $10,230 on average in North Dakota.
The cost of living in North Dakota is 3.2% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in North Dakota is $86,873 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a North Dakota household is $65,315.
The cheapest housing market in North Dakota is Ellendale. The average home value in Ellendale is $72,100, the lowest in the state. The average home value in North Dakota is $199,900, almost 2.8 times higher than Ellendale.
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The county in North Dakota with the lowest cost of living is McIntosh County. The average living wage in McIntosh County is $81,422 according to MIT data. McIntosh County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to North Dakota as a whole. Childcare costs $13,020 a year in McIntosh County for two children compared to the North Dakota average of $16,381. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in McIntosh County compared to $10,230 on average in North Dakota.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Peace Garden State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in North Dakota boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for North Dakota using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in North Dakota to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 13 places in North Dakota that have more than 6,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in North Dakota with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Devils Lake.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in North Dakota.
North Dakota Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in North Dakota for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in North Dakota.
The cheapest cities in North Dakota are Devils Lake, Wahpeton, Valley City, Jamestown, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson, Mandan, and Bismarck.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in North Dakota according to the data:
- Watford City
- West Fargo
- Williston
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In North Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Dakota
Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devils Lake | 7,308 | 90 | $43,220 | $236,272 | $711 |
| 2 | Wahpeton | 8,010 | 93 | $62,750 | $229,172 | $751 |
| 3 | Valley City | 6,541 | 93 | $60,339 | $195,114 | $780 |
| 4 | Jamestown | 15,787 | 94 | $56,554 | $208,863 | $773 |
| 5 | Fargo | 131,627 | 102 | $66,998 | $314,972 | $946 |
| 6 | Grand Forks | 59,042 | 102 | $63,627 | $291,534 | $980 |
| 7 | Minot | 47,791 | 104 | $73,219 | $272,694 | $973 |
| 8 | Dickinson | 25,357 | 105 | $82,696 | $319,458 | $957 |
| 9 | Mandan | 24,522 | 105 | $71,780 | $341,688 | $1,083 |
| 10 | Bismarck | 75,556 | 108 | $78,387 | $369,558 | $999 |
| 11 | Williston | 28,056 | 108 | $79,381 | $365,978 | $1,122 |
| 12 | West Fargo | 40,094 | 109 | $90,665 | $348,750 | $1,111 |
| 13 | Watford City | 6,039 | 114 | $102,260 | $378,061 | $1,336 |