CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IN vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Fargo is slightly cheaper than Bloomington — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $76,500 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.3%
Bloomington
85.6
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries+1.5%
Bloomington
94.3
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation7.9%
Bloomington
104.1
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare7.9%
Bloomington
94.2
Fargo
86.8
Utilities10.6%
Bloomington
86.5
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.9558. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Fargo, ND

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

Bloomington has 5.3% lower housing costs compared to Fargo.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

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).

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.