Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 18% higher in Minneapolis, MN. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Fargo, ND
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$671
$992
+48% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$804
$1,192
+48% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,555
+63% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,761
+29% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$345,600
+28% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$80,269
+22% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$59,320
+16% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
33.0 yr
+0.8 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
44.1%
48.0%
+3.9 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
54.5%
+11.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
15.8 min
22.5 min
+6.7 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
1,168.5
+131% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,726.4
5,183.1
+39% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+5.0°F in Minneapolis, MN
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
32.8 in
+10.2 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
16.9
+25% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$14.95
+31% in Minneapolis, MN

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 / MN)
5%
6.875%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
9.85%
+7.3 pp in MN

Fargo vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Minneapolis?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Minneapolis?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).