Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 21% higher in Fargo, ND. 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
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$671
$841
+25% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$804
$849
+6% in Milwaukee, WI
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,031
+8% in Milwaukee, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,193
+13% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$172,000
+36% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$51,888
+21% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$51,160
+0% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
32.2 yr
about equal
Homeownership
44.1%
41.5%
+2.6 pp in Fargo, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
26.6%
+16.6 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
22.4 min
+6.6 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
1,452.3
+188% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
3,726.4
2,772.2
+26% 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
47.9°F
+5.5°F in Milwaukee, WI
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
34.8 in
+12.2 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.25

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

Utilities

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

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Milwaukee?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Milwaukee?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Milwaukee 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).