Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 16% higher in Fargo, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fargo, ND
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$671
$953
+42% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$804
$1,019
+27% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,287
+35% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,392
+2% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$296,400
+10% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$55,339
+16% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$47,290
+7% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
38.4 yr
+6.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
44.1%
50.5%
+6.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
42.0%
+1.2 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
22.7 min
+6.9 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
1,361.1
+170% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,726.4
5,089.6
+37% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+28.2°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
62.3 in
+39.7 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Fargo, ND

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
14.2
+4% in New Orleans, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$16.62
+46% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Fargo, ND
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in New Orleans, LA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Fargo, ND
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Fargo, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / LA)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
3.00%
+0.5 pp in LA

Fargo vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or New Orleans?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or New Orleans?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).