CostIndexUSA

Cincinnati, OH vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Fargo is slightly cheaper than Cincinnati — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $76,200 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.4%
Cincinnati
87.6
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Cincinnati
93.8
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation7.8%
Cincinnati
104
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare7.8%
Cincinnati
94.1
Fargo
86.8
Utilities15.1%
Cincinnati
91
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$76,200
$3,800 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 95.4) = salary × 0.9528. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Home Price
$296,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
87.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Fargo, ND

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

Cincinnati has 7.4% lower housing costs compared to Fargo.

Income & Job Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
309,317
Top Industries
FinanceManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnology

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).

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×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.