CostIndexUSA

Fargo, ND vs Montgomery, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Montgomery is slightly cheaper than Fargo — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fargo, you would need $78,900 in Montgomery. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.7%
Fargo
81.1
Montgomery
64.3
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Fargo
95.7
Montgomery
96.4
🚗 Transportation+5.8%
Fargo
95.9
Montgomery
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Fargo
86.8
Montgomery
91.9
Utilities+9.8%
Fargo
77.3
Montgomery
84.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Montgomery, AL
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Montgomery

Formula: salary × (89.7 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 0.9868. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fargo, ND

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

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Fargo has 20.7% lower housing costs compared to Montgomery.

Income & Job Market

Fargo, ND

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

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Fargo, ND
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Montgomery, AL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.