CostIndexUSA

Erie, PA vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostPA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
ND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Erie and Fargo have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+42.8%
Erie
56.8
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries5.0%
Erie
100.7
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation6.5%
Erie
102.6
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare6.5%
Erie
92.8
Fargo
86.8
Utilities27.6%
Erie
106.8
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$79,900
$100 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 91) = salary × 0.9989. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
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×

Fargo has 42.8% higher housing costs compared to Erie.

Income & Job Market

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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).

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.