Before you decide to relocate to North Dakota, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in North Dakota that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 13 places in North Dakota with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in North Dakota for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In North Dakota For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in North Dakota? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Williston is the most expensive place to live in North Dakota.
Devils Lake (the cheapest place to live in North Dakota) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about North Dakota and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In North Dakota For 2024
/10
Population: 27,783
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $80,352
Average Home Price: $317,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Williston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Williston is 105. The median income in Williston comes in at $80,352 and the average home value is $317,700 for 2024.
/10
Population: 25,116
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $75,767
Average Home Price: $275,335
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Dickinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Dickinson is 104. The median income in Dickinson comes in at $75,767 and the average home value is $275,335 for 2024.
/10
Population: 5,900
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $84,076
Average Home Price: $307,622
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Watford City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Watford City is 104. The median income in Watford City comes in at $84,076 and the average home value is $307,622 for 2024.
/10
Population: 48,038
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $75,545
Average Home Price: $239,901
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Minot: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Minot is 103. The median income in Minot comes in at $75,545 and the average home value is $239,901 for 2024.
/10
Population: 73,694
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $76,014
Average Home Price: $339,338
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Bismarck: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bismarck is 98. The median income in Bismarck comes in at $76,014 and the average home value is $339,338 for 2024.
/10
Population: 24,049
Cost Of Living Index: 97
Median Income: $78,077
Average Home Price: $308,053
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Mandan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Mandan is 97. The median income in Mandan comes in at $78,077 and the average home value is $308,053 for 2024.
/10
Population: 58,935
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $59,079
Average Home Price: $253,634
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Grand Forks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Grand Forks is 94. The median income in Grand Forks comes in at $59,079 and the average home value is $253,634 for 2024.
/10
Population: 38,653
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $96,929
Average Home Price: $317,108
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on West Fargo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in West Fargo is 94. The median income in West Fargo comes in at $96,929 and the average home value is $317,108 for 2024.
/10
Population: 127,319
Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $64,432
Average Home Price: $290,476
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Fargo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Fargo is 93. The median income in Fargo comes in at $64,432 and the average home value is $290,476 for 2024.
/10
Population: 15,850
Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $53,389
Average Home Price: $184,873
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Jamestown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Jamestown is 90. The median income in Jamestown comes in at $53,389 and the average home value is $184,873 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Peace Garden State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in North Dakota are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in North Dakota to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 13 places in North Dakota that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in North Dakota according to the data is Williston. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in North Dakota.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In North Dakota For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in North Dakota that have the highest cost of living, with Williston ranking as the most expensive city in the Peace Garden State.
The most expensive cities in North Dakota are Williston, Dickinson, Watford City, Minot, Bismarck, Mandan, Grand Forks, West Fargo, Fargo, and Jamestown.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in North Dakota according to the data:
- Devils Lake
- Valley City
- Wahpeton
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Dakota
- Safest Places In North Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In North Dakota
Most Expensive Cities In North Dakota
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williston | 105 | 27,783 | $80,352 | $317,700 | 4.0x |
| 2 | Dickinson | 104 | 25,116 | $75,767 | $275,335 | 3.6x |
| 3 | Watford City | 104 | 5,900 | $84,076 | $307,622 | 3.7x |
| 4 | Minot | 103 | 48,038 | $75,545 | $239,901 | 3.2x |
| 5 | Bismarck | 98 | 73,694 | $76,014 | $339,338 | 4.5x |
| 6 | Mandan | 97 | 24,049 | $78,077 | $308,053 | 3.9x |
| 7 | Grand Forks | 94 | 58,935 | $59,079 | $253,634 | 4.3x |
| 8 | West Fargo | 94 | 38,653 | $96,929 | $317,108 | 3.3x |
| 9 | Fargo | 93 | 127,319 | $64,432 | $290,476 | 4.5x |
| 10 | Jamestown | 90 | 15,850 | $53,389 | $184,873 | 3.5x |
| 11 | Wahpeton | 85 | 7,983 | $51,417 | $201,883 | 3.9x |
| 12 | Valley City | 83 | 6,558 | $52,224 | $167,019 | 3.2x |
| 13 | Devils Lake | 81 | 7,192 | $41,203 | $215,052 | 5.2x |