Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,675 per month in Burlington vs $2,011 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,900 per month in Burlington vs $3,207 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,125 per month in Burlington vs $4,402 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Burlington costs about 33% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Burlington and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Burlington by 96%, Fargo, ND by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.41 CA$29.76

$15.05 $15.05

42.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$60.6 $60.6

20.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.18

$11.05 $11.05

-1.18%

Cappuccino

$3.30 CA$4.59

$5.27 $5.27

-37.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.67

$2.59 $2.59

-25.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.10

$1.97 $1.97

-23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.13

$5.35 $5.35

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 CA$9.00

$8.94 $8.94

-27.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.61 CA$3.63

$1.22 $1.22

113.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.50 $3.50

-15.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.42

$7.50 $7.50

-48.00%

Eggs

$3.77 CA$5.24

$4.09 $4.09

-7.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 CA$14.01

$14.43 $14.43

-30.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.51 CA$14.61

$15.35 $15.35

-31.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$21.43 $21.43

-30.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.40

$10.64 $10.64

-63.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CA$2.05

$2.36 $2.36

-37.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.72

$6.35 $6.35

-57.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.12

$5.66 $5.66

-34.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 CA$2.67

$5.07 $5.07

-62.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 CA$2.59

$3.82 $3.82

-51.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 CA$2.90

$1.98 $1.98

5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.10

$2.71 $2.71

-44.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.69 CA$19.03

$9.00 $9.00

52.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.97 CA$15.25

$18.57 $18.57

-40.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 CA$3.88

$2.61 $2.61

6.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.06

$5.53 $5.53

-47.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$1.48 $1.48

85.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.9 CA$136

$41.56 $41.56

135.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 CA$6.98

$4.55 $4.55

10.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 CA$3.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.79 CA$59.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K CA$40.1K

$34.8K $34.8K

-17.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.6K CA$28.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

-16.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 CA$200

$135 $135

6.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.85 CA$63.7

$54.2 $54.2

-15.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 CA$95.0

$58.6 $58.6

16.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 CA$72.5

$55.9 $55.9

-6.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.78 CA$41.40

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 CA$22.64

$13.68 $13.68

19.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,199 CA$1,667

$1,243 $1,243

-3.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K CA$26.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 CA$99.4

$51.7 $51.7

38.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 CA$92.5

$47.04 $47.04

41.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 CA$138

$91.0 $91.0

9.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 CA$139

$101 $101

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,680 CA$2,336

$939 $939

78.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,440 CA$2,002

$689 $689

108.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,542 CA$3,534

$2,237 $2,237

13.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,249 CA$3,126

$1,493 $1,493

50.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,150 CA$7,158

$1,788 $1,788

187.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,158 CA$5,780

$1,777 $1,777

133.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,212 CA$4,465

$3,773 $3,773

-14.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.52

6.3

-28.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Burlington: September 12, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,680 in Burlington versus $939 in Fargo, ND. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Fargo, ND, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Burlington versus $61.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries tell a different story – $349 in Burlington vs $524 in Fargo, ND – so Burlington wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Burlington vs Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Burlington is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,012 per month in Burlington and $3,017 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fargo, ND, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,199 per month in Burlington and $1,243 in Fargo, ND. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 50% cheaper in Burlington – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fargo, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,011, than in Burlington at $2,675. In Fargo, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fargo, ND – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fargo, ND. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burlington makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.