Is $38,000 a good salary in North Dakota?

$38,000 in North Dakota provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,720 after taxes. Across major North Dakota cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $798.

What is the cost of living on $38,000 in North Dakota?

The average monthly living cost across major North Dakota cities is approximately $1,922 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $38,000 take-home pay of $2,720/month, you would have roughly $798/month remaining.

Living in North Dakota · 2026

Is $38,000 enough to live in North Dakota?

Single adult · ND · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,720

Avg monthly expenses

$1,922

Avg monthly surplus

$798

Savings potential

~29%

After-tax take-home in North Dakota

Gross salary$38,000

Federal income tax− $2,454

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $2,356

Medicare− $551

Annual take-home$32,639

Effective tax rate14.11%

How $38,000 feels in North Dakota cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Fargo

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $774/mo

Rent burden: 38.6% — High (35–50%)

Full Fargo analysis →

Bismarck

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $849/mo

Rent burden: 36.8% — High (35–50%)

Full Bismarck analysis →

Grand Forks

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $924/mo

Rent burden: 34.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Grand Forks analysis →

Minot

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$396

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,805/mo

Surplus: $915/mo

Rent burden: 34.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Minot analysis →

West Fargo

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $774/mo

Rent burden: 38.6% — High (35–50%)

Full West Fargo analysis →

Williston

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$440

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,170/mo

Surplus: $550/mo

Rent burden: 44.1% — High (35–50%)

Full Williston analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,720 ($32,640/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,360

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$816

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$544

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$16,320

Wants / year

$9,792

Savings / year

$6,528

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Fargo

Rent would consume 39% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 6.5/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $38,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Fargo, North Dakota, with approximately $774/month (~28% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Fargo is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $38,000 here is roughly equivalent to $77,253 in San Francisco or $36,747 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$38,000 is 13% below the North Dakota individual median of $43,800. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$43,800

-13%

State household median

$73,959

-49%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$38,000 vs. North Dakota income benchmarks

Individual median (North Dakota)

$43,800

-13% vs. this salary

Household median (North Dakota)

$73,959

-49% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in North Dakota

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.