CostIndexUSA

Baltimore, MD vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MD
Baltimore
104.5
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Fargo is moderately cheaper than Baltimore — 13.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baltimore, you would need $69,600 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.4%
Baltimore
118.2
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries6.5%
Baltimore
102.4
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation10.0%
Baltimore
106.6
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare10.0%
Baltimore
96.4
Fargo
86.8
Utilities29.9%
Baltimore
110.2
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$69,600
$10,400 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 104.5) = salary × 0.8699. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Home Price
$391,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
118.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Fargo, ND

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

Baltimore has 31.4% lower housing costs compared to Fargo.

Income & Job Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Household Income
$94,300
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
585,708
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Baltimore, MD
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.