Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 7% higher in Las Vegas, NV. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$671
$992
+48% in Las Vegas, NV
1 Bedroom
$804
$1,181
+47% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,401
+47% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,740
+27% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$395,300
+47% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$70,723
+7% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$46,670
+9% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
38.5 yr
+6.3 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
44.1%
55.7%
+11.6 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
27.3%
+15.9 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
25.8 min
+10.0 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
433.3
+14% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
3,726.4
2,642.1
+29% 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
42.4°F
68.4°F
+26.0°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
5.4 in
+17.2 in in Fargo, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.09/gal
+29% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$12.09
+6% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Las Vegas, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Las Vegas, NV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Fargo, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NV)
5%
6.85%
+1.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
None
+2.5 pp in ND

Fargo vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Las Vegas?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Las Vegas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Las Vegas?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).