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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,100 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,778 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Fargo, ND vs $4,107 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Fargo, ND vs $5,436 in Burlington, rent included.

Fargo, ND is about 24% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fargo, ND and Burlington sit above the global median – Fargo, ND by 57%, Burlington by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$20.15 CA$28.09

-26.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$74.4 CA$104

-32.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.96 CA$15.28

-1.09%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$3.67 CA$5.12

46.32%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.01 CA$2.81

27.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.73 CA$2.41

16.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 $5.74

$5.85 CA$8.16

-1.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 $8.29

$6.54 CA$9.12

26.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.99 CA$2.77

-38.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.07 CA$4.28

10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.31 CA$6.01

35.96%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$3.19 CA$4.44

26.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.65 CA$19.03

-9.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$9.14 CA$12.75

65.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.24 $19.24

$21.94 CA$30.59

-12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$3.46 CA$4.83

136.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.42 CA$1.98

90.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.73 CA$5.20

70.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$3.49 CA$4.87

36.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.95 CA$2.72

92.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.79 CA$2.49

96.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.10 CA$2.93

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.00 CA$2.79

31.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.15 $9.15

$14.74 CA$20.56

-37.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.81 $18.81

$12.63 CA$17.61

48.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.36 CA$3.30

8.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.33 CA$3.25

111.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.39 CA$4.73

-56.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.80 $41.80

$105 CA$147

-60.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.32 CA$3.23

97.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.70 CA$2.38

-4.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$43.79 CA$61.1

-33.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.17 CA$1.63

-27.35%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$25.1K CA$35.0K

29.81%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$21.4K CA$29.9K

17.54%

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

$162 $162

$131 CA$182

24.35%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$53.2 CA$74.2

3.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$62.1 CA$86.6

-8.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 $54.4

$45.44 CA$63.4

19.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.28 CA$32.47

Cinema Ticket

$13.90 $13.90

$11.22 CA$15.64

23.89%

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

$1,223 $1,223

$952 CA$1,327

28.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$24.0K CA$33.4K

-3.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 $50.1

$62.1 CA$86.6

-19.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.64 $46.64

$69.4 CA$96.7

-32.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$87.5 CA$122

3.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$136 CA$190

-19.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 $946

$1,733 CA$2,416

-45.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 $746

$1,470 CA$2,051

-49.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$2,640 CA$3,681

-4.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$2,440 CA$3,402

-37.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,802 $1,802

$5,745 CA$8,011

-68.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 $1,806

$4,546 CA$6,339

-60.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,727 $3,727

$3,278 CA$4,572

13.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.4

2.50%

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

Last update for Fargo, ND: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burlington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $946 in Fargo, ND versus $1,733 in Burlington. 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 14% 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 $50.0 in Fargo, ND versus $74.0 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $480 in Fargo, ND vs $375 in Burlington – 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

Fargo, ND vs Burlington: 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 $3,151 per month in Fargo, ND and $4,167 in Burlington. 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 $1,223 per month in Fargo, ND and $952 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% 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 $2,100, than in Burlington at $2,778. 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.