CostIndexUSA

Fargo, ND vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
FL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Fargo is moderately cheaper than Sarasota — 12.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fargo, you would need $90,100 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+57.8%
Fargo
81.1
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fargo
95.7
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation+8.2%
Fargo
95.9
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+8.2%
Fargo
86.8
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities+14.1%
Fargo
77.3
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$90,100
$10,100 more needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 1.1265. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 57.8% higher housing costs compared to Fargo.

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.