CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
ND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Abilene is slightly cheaper than Fargo — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $80,400 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+9.9%
Abilene
73.8
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Abilene
93.8
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation5.1%
Abilene
101.1
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare5.0%
Abilene
91.4
Fargo
86.8
Utilities4.8%
Abilene
81.2
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Fargo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$80,400
$400 more needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.0055. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Fargo, ND

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
81.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.7×

Fargo has 9.9% higher housing costs compared to Abilene.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Fargo, ND

Median Household Income
$72,900
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
125,990
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Fargo, ND
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.