Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,011 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,207 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,402 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 93% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Seattle, WA and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Fargo, ND by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$15.05 $15.05

66.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$60.6 $60.6

64.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.05 $11.05

36.29%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.27 $5.27

20.87%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.59 $2.59

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.97 $1.97

52.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.35 $5.35

45.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.94 $8.94

-8.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.22 $1.22

-0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.50 $3.50

42.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$7.50 $7.50

-14.80%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.09 $4.09

25.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.43 $14.43

45.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.35 $15.35

19.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$21.43 $21.43

12.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$10.64 $10.64

-44.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.36 $2.36

-20.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.35 $6.35

-16.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.66 $5.66

14.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.07 $5.07

-27.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.82 $3.82

-12.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.98 $1.98

40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.71 $2.71

-4.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.00 $9.00

54.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$18.57 $18.57

-19.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.61 $2.61

63.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.53 $5.53

5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.48 $1.48

97.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$41.56 $41.56

161.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.55 $4.55

-43.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.94 $0.94

48.94%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.8K $34.8K

3.79%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.80%

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

$299 $299

$135 $135

122.42%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$54.2 $54.2

28.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$58.6 $58.6

49.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$55.9 $55.9

43.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$13.68 $13.68

29.39%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,243 $1,243

143.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$51.7 $51.7

49.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.04 $47.04

17.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$91.0 $91.0

41.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$101 $101

58.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$939 $939

164.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$689 $689

180.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,237 $2,237

112.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,493 $1,493

143.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,788 $1,788

324.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,777 $1,777

187.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,773 $3,773

64.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.3

2.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA 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 65% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA versus $61.0 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $524 – making Fargo, ND the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 93% more than Fargo, ND, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA and $61.0 in Fargo, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,011 in Fargo, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fargo, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,011, than in Seattle, WA at $3,880. In Fargo, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fargo, ND costs $2,011 versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.