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 $2,045 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,762 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,203 per month in Fargo, ND vs $4,019 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,361 per month in Fargo, ND vs $5,276 in Burlington, rent included.

Fargo, ND is about 26% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fargo, ND and Burlington sit above the global median – Fargo, ND by 53%, Burlington by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.92 $14.92

$20.46 CA$28.02

-27.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$73.4 CA$101

-31.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 $10.95

$11.14 CA$15.26

-1.71%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$3.65 CA$5.00

43.01%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$1.95 CA$2.67

36.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.66 CA$2.28

18.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$5.76 CA$7.89

2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.39 $8.39

$6.76 CA$9.26

24.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.09 CA$2.86

-39.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.02 CA$4.14

12.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.35 CA$5.96

38.62%

Eggs

$3.89 $3.89

$3.08 CA$4.23

26.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$13.50 CA$18.49

-7.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.64 $14.64

$8.75 CA$11.99

67.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.36 $19.36

$22.69 CA$31.09

-14.68%

Apples (1kg)

$8.30 $8.30

$3.38 CA$4.62

145.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.39 CA$1.91

101.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.62 CA$4.96

77.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$3.63 CA$4.97

29.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.86 CA$2.55

97.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.85 CA$2.53

89.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.13 CA$2.91

-7.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.04 CA$2.79

33.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 $8.94

$14.44 CA$19.78

-38.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.77 $16.77

$12.70 CA$17.39

32.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.44 CA$3.34

7.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.23 CA$3.05

121.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.40 CA$4.65

-54.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 $41.57

$106 CA$146

-60.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$2.34 CA$3.20

94.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.74 CA$2.39

-8.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.67 $29.67

$43.92 CA$60.2

-32.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.11 CA$1.52

-29.73%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$24.9K CA$34.1K

34.11%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$21.0K CA$28.7K

20.79%

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

$161 $161

$133 CA$183

20.99%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$54.2 CA$74.2

1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 $57.9

$61.4 CA$84.1

-5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$46.94 CA$64.3

18.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.07 CA$31.60

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$10.89 CA$14.91

27.55%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$942 CA$1,291

32.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$24.2K CA$33.2K

-4.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$63.3 CA$86.7

-18.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.12 $47.12

$67.4 CA$92.4

-30.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$86.6 CA$119

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$138 CA$190

-21.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 $970

$1,762 CA$2,414

-44.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 $766

$1,458 CA$1,998

-47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$2,657 CA$3,641

-2.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$2,430 CA$3,329

-36.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,795 $1,795

$5,874 CA$8,047

-69.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,774 $1,774

$4,547 CA$6,229

-60.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,785 $3,785

$3,325 CA$4,556

13.82%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Burlington: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $970 in Fargo, ND versus $1,762 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 in Fargo, ND versus $73 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $478 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 35%, 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 $3,067 per month in Fargo, ND and $4,144 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 $1,252 per month in Fargo, ND and $942 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% 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 $2,045, than in Burlington at $2,762. 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.