Is $50,000 a good salary in North Dakota?

$50,000 in North Dakota provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,523 after taxes. Across major North Dakota cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,601.

What is the cost of living on $50,000 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 $50,000 take-home pay of $3,523/month, you would have roughly $1,601/month remaining.

Living in North Dakota · 2026

Is $50,000 enough to live in North Dakota?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,523

Avg monthly expenses

$1,922

Avg monthly surplus

$1,601

Savings potential

~45%

After-tax take-home in North Dakota

Gross salary$50,000

Federal income tax− $3,894

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $3,100

Medicare− $725

Annual take-home$42,281

Effective tax rate15.44%

How $50,000 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

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $1,577/mo

Rent burden: 29.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Fargo analysis →

Bismarck

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $1,652/mo

Rent burden: 28.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Bismarck analysis →

Grand Forks

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $1,727/mo

Rent burden: 27.0% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Grand Forks analysis →

Minot

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$396

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,805/mo

Surplus: $1,718/mo

Rent burden: 27.0% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Minot analysis →

West Fargo

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$405

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,946/mo

Surplus: $1,577/mo

Rent burden: 29.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

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: $1,353/mo

Rent burden: 34.1% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Williston analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,523 ($42,276/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,762

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,057

per month

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

Savings20%

$705

per month

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

Needs / year

$21,138

Wants / year

$12,683

Savings / year

$8,455

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Fargo

Rent takes 30% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.2/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $50,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Fargo, North Dakota, with approximately $1,577/month (~45% 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). $50,000 here is roughly equivalent to $101,648 in San Francisco or $48,352 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$50,000 is slightly above the North Dakota individual median of $43,800 (+14%). The state household median is $73,959.

State individual median

$43,800

+14%

State household median

$73,959

-32%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$50,000 vs. North Dakota income benchmarks

Individual median (North Dakota)

$43,800

+14% vs. this salary

Household median (North Dakota)

$73,959

-32% 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.