Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 14% higher in Madison, WI. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fargo, ND
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$671
$1,018
+52% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$804
$1,219
+52% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,432
+50% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,766
+29% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$346,900
+29% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$76,983
+17% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$58,080
+14% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
31.8 yr
+0.4 yr in Fargo, ND
Homeownership
44.1%
46.6%
+2.5 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
59.2%
+16.0 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
15.8 min
19.4 min
+3.6 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
259.5
+49% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
3,726.4
1,884.5
+49% 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
46.5°F
+4.1°F in Madison, WI
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
34.5 in
+11.9 in in Madison, WI

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
19.7
+45% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$11.79
+4% in Madison, WI

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 / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
7.65%
+5.2 pp in WI

Fargo vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Madison?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Madison?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% 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).