Des Moines, IA vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024
Fargo is slightly cheaper than Des Moines — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.
To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $79,300 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓
Category Breakdown
Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.
Salary Equivalency Calculator
Enter your current salary in Des Moines to see what you'd need to earn in Fargo to maintain the same purchasing power.
Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9913. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Housing Market
Des Moines, IA
- Median Home Price
- $285,000
- Median Monthly Rent
- $1,250
- Housing Index
- 84.7
- Price-to-Rent Ratio
- 19.0×
Fargo, ND
- Median Home Price
- $313,000
- Median Monthly Rent
- $1,100
- Housing Index
- 81.1
- Price-to-Rent Ratio
- 23.7×
Des Moines has 4.3% lower housing costs compared to Fargo.
Income & Job Market
Des Moines, IA
- Median Household Income
- $82,700
- Per Capita Income
- $47,100
- Unemployment Rate
- 3.1%
- Population
- 214,237
Fargo, ND
- Median Household Income
- $72,900
- Per Capita Income
- $41,600
- Unemployment Rate
- 3.7%
- Population
- 125,990
Affordability at a Glance
Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).
82% of income left after rent (median)
82% of income left after rent (median)
Related Comparisons
Des Moines vs other cities
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.