North Dakota cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: North Dakota has a cost-of-living index of 90.7 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $45,350, median household income of $77,871, combined average sales tax about 6.96%, and regular gas about $3.772/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index90.7100 = US baseline

Est. annual COL$45,350

Median HH income$77,871

Sales tax (comb.)6.96%

Gas (87 octane)$3.772/galJune 2026 AAA

Largest cityFargo (133,188)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Graduated 0% / 1.95% / 2.5% (2026)

Sales tax: 5% state (combined avg. ~6.96%)

Major industries: Energy (oil/gas/coal/renewables), agriculture (wheat, soybeans), manufacturing

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~82°F (July) · Winter low ~-2°F (January)

Culture (context)

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

North Dakota State Fair (Minot)
Medora Musical / major cultural heritage events

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 90.7 in North Dakota. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 90.7% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: North Dakota vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

Read the quick answer for North Dakota's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
Open the 50-state explorer and compare North Dakota with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

Texas — COL 90.7 (Δ 0.0 index pts)
Georgia — COL 90.6 (Δ 0.1 index pts)
Louisiana — COL 91.1 (Δ 0.4 index pts)

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FAQ

What is North Dakota's cost of living index?

North Dakota's cost-of-living index is 90.7 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in North Dakota?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $45,350 for North Dakota.

What is median household income in North Dakota?

Median household income in North Dakota is $77,871 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in North Dakota?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for North Dakota is 6.96%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does North Dakota have a state income tax?

State income tax in North Dakota: Graduated 0% / 1.95% / 2.5% (2026).

What was regular gas in North Dakota in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.772 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read North Dakota's cost-of-living index?

The index is 90.7 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 90.7% of that salary to buy the same basket in North Dakota in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). State income-tax blurb: North Dakota Tax Commissioner — Form ND-1ES 2026 rate schedules. Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice. Income-tax blurb on this page was updated October 2026.