Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 21% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$998
$671
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$804
+38% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$956
+36% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,368
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$269,800
+36% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$66,029
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$51,050
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
32.2 yr
+3.4 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
44.1%
+17.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
43.2%
+1.3 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
22.8 min
15.8 min
+7.0 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
504.9
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
3,726.4
+7% in Fargo, ND

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
42.4°F
+6.6°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
22.6 in
+6.0 in in Fargo, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
13.6
+16% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$11.39
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Fargo, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / ND)
2.9%
5%
+2.1 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
2.50%
+1.9 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Fargo?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Fargo?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).