Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 6% higher in Lincoln, NE. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fargo, ND
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$671
$851
+27% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$804
$879
+9% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,070
+12% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,379
+1% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$248,200
+8% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$69,991
+6% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$49,800
+2% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
33.4 yr
+1.2 yr in Lincoln, NE
Homeownership
44.1%
55.8%
+11.7 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
41.0%
+2.2 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
18.3 min
+2.5 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
363.1
+28% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
3,726.4
2,484.4
+33% 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
51.5°F
+9.1°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
30.9 in
+8.3 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
+0% in Fargo, ND
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$15.53
+36% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NE)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
4.55%
+2.0 pp in NE

Fargo vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Lincoln?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Lincoln?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).