Is $80,000 a good salary in North Dakota?

$80,000 in North Dakota provides a monthly take-home of approximately $5,411 after taxes. Across major North Dakota cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $3,489.

What is the cost of living on $80,000 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 $80,000 take-home pay of $5,411/month, you would have roughly $3,489/month remaining.

Living in North Dakota · 2026

Is $80,000 enough to live in North Dakota?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$5,411

Avg monthly expenses

$1,922

Avg monthly surplus

$3,489

Savings potential

~64%

After-tax take-home in North Dakota

Gross salary$80,000

Federal income tax− $8,954

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $4,960

Medicare− $1,160

Annual take-home$64,926

Effective tax rate18.84%

How $80,000 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: $3,465/mo

Rent burden: 19.4% — Affordable (< 25%)

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: $3,540/mo

Rent burden: 18.5% — Affordable (< 25%)

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: $3,615/mo

Rent burden: 17.6% — Affordable (< 25%)

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: $3,606/mo

Rent burden: 17.6% — Affordable (< 25%)

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: $3,465/mo

Rent burden: 19.4% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full West Fargo analysis →

Williston

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$440

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,170/mo

Surplus: $3,241/mo

Rent burden: 22.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Williston analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $5,411 ($64,932/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$2,706

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,623

per month

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

Savings20%

$1,082

per month

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

Needs / year

$32,466

Wants / year

$19,480

Savings / year

$12,986

Salary Intelligence

Excellent salary in Fargo

At $80,000, housing costs only 19% of take-home income — well below the 25% threshold. This leaves strong room for savings, discretionary spending, and wealth building.

Lifestyle score: 7.9/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $80,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Fargo, North Dakota, with approximately $3,465/month (~64% 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). $80,000 here is roughly equivalent to $162,637 in San Francisco or $77,363 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$80,000 is 83% above the North Dakota individual median of $43,800 and 43% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$43,800

+83%

State household median

$73,959

+8%

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)

$80,000 vs. North Dakota income benchmarks

Individual median (North Dakota)

$43,800

+83% vs. this salary

Household median (North Dakota)

$73,959

+8% 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.