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 $2,756 per month in Burlington vs $2,092 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,090 per month in Burlington vs $3,243 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,423 per month in Burlington vs $4,394 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Burlington costs about 32% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Burlington and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Burlington by 106%, Fargo, ND by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.31 CA$28.61

$15.23 $15.23

33.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 CA$104

$49.63 $49.63

48.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 CA$15.60

$10.97 $10.97

1.00%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.20

$5.40 $5.40

-31.67%

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

$2.01 CA$2.83

$2.68 $2.68

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.43

$1.96 $1.96

-11.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 CA$8.08

$6.03 $6.03

-4.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$9.07

$8.24 $8.24

-21.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CA$2.95

$1.22 $1.22

71.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 CA$4.40

$3.44 $3.44

-9.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 CA$6.18

$5.93 $5.93

-25.97%

Eggs

$3.02 CA$4.26

$4.05 $4.05

-25.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.73 CA$19.35

$12.66 $12.66

8.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 CA$12.17

$15.05 $15.05

-42.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.52 CA$31.72

$19.50 $19.50

15.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.80

$8.29 $8.29

-58.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.94

$2.83 $2.83

-51.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.12

$6.60 $6.60

-45.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 CA$5.02

$4.71 $4.71

-24.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.71

$3.74 $3.74

-48.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 CA$2.48

$3.58 $3.58

-50.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 CA$3.10

$2.02 $2.02

8.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.64 $2.64

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 CA$21.03

$9.32 $9.32

60.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 CA$17.73

$18.64 $18.64

-32.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$2.63 $2.63

-9.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CA$3.23

$4.84 $4.84

-52.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.22 CA$4.54

$1.46 $1.46

120.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 CA$150

$41.61 $41.61

155.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 CA$3.29

$4.61 $4.61

-49.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 CA$2.49

$1.66 $1.66

6.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.77 CA$61.7

$29.43 $29.43

48.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.65

$0.83 $0.83

40.96%

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

$24.9K CA$35.0K

$33.4K $33.4K

-25.56%

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

$21.0K CA$29.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

-18.78%

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

$134 CA$188

$159 $159

-16.04%

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

$52.7 CA$74.3

$54.2 $54.2

-2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$88.7

$58.0 $58.0

8.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.80 CA$64.5

$54.9 $54.9

-16.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 CA$33.08

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 CA$15.52

$13.61 $13.61

-19.03%

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

$953 CA$1,342

$1,240 $1,240

-23.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K CA$34.9K

$23.0K $23.0K

7.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$88.1

$50.9 $50.9

23.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.5 CA$96.4

$47.14 $47.14

45.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 CA$123

$90.0 $90.0

-3.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 CA$194

$109 $109

26.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 CA$2,413

$969 $969

76.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 CA$2,055

$753 $753

93.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 CA$3,716

$2,604 $2,604

1.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 CA$3,377

$1,539 $1,539

55.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,201 CA$7,326

$1,774 $1,774

193.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,420 CA$6,225

$1,810 $1,810

144.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,362 CA$4,736

$3,773 $3,773

-10.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.56

-2.44%

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

Last update for Burlington: July 20, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,713 in Burlington versus $969 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 12% 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 $74.0 in Burlington versus $50.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries tell a different story – $376 in Burlington vs $485 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 32%, 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 $4,134 per month in Burlington and $3,138 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 $953 per month in Burlington and $1,240 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 29% 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 $2,092, than in Burlington at $2,756. 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.