CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Fargo is slightly cheaper than Dayton — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $78,400 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.6%
Dayton
72.7
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries+2.2%
Dayton
93.6
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation7.7%
Dayton
103.9
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare7.7%
Dayton
94
Fargo
86.8
Utilities19.0%
Dayton
95.4
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9806. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Dayton, OH

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Fargo, ND

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

Fargo has 11.6% higher housing costs compared to Dayton.

Income & Job Market

Dayton, OH

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
137,630
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryEducationGovernment

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).

Dayton, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.