Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Fargo, ND versus $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 1% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$671
$795
+18% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$804
$882
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,085
+13% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,356
+1% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$215,100
+20% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$66,702
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$47,230
+7% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
35.0 yr
+2.8 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
44.1%
59.1%
+15.0 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
34.0%
+9.2 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
22.2 min
+6.4 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
685.9
+36% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
3,726.4
2,929.1
+21% 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
61.5°F
+19.1°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
36.5 in
+13.9 in in Oklahoma City, OK

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)
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.4
+2% in Fargo, ND
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$27.15
+138% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 Oklahoma City, OK
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 / OK)
5%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
4.50%
+2.0 pp in OK

Fargo vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Oklahoma City?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Oklahoma City?
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 Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Oklahoma City?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).