Cost of Living in North Dakota for a Family of Four (2026)
A family of four in North Dakota needs about $6,806 a month ($81,672 a year) to cover a typical household budget before saving. That is 12% below the U.S. average of $7,777 and ranks #41 of 51, where #1 is the most expensive.
Rent is the main reason it costs less. North Dakota's rent level is 71% of the national average, so a typical three-bedroom rental with utilities runs about $1,450 a month, compared with $2,030 nationally. Everyday goods such as groceries and clothing cost 4% less than the national average, which puts this family's grocery bill at about $998 a month on the USDA low-cost food plan.
To cover this budget and still save 15% of take-home pay, a family would need about $8,007 a month after taxes ($96,084 a year).
Monthly budget in North Dakota by household
The family is two parents aged 38 and 40 with children aged 9 and 4, the youngest in paid childcare, renting a three-bedroom home. The couple is two adults aged 35 and the single adult is 30, each renting a one-bedroom home.
| Category | Family of four | Couple | Single adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | $1,450 | $948 | $948 |
| Groceries | $998 | $624 | $340 |
| Dining out & takeout | $249 | $156 | $85 |
| Transportation | $1,176 | $1,176 | $588 |
| Health care | $638 | $419 | $210 |
| Childcare | $977 | $0 | $0 |
| Phone & internet | $155 | $155 | $115 |
| Clothing | $208 | $147 | $104 |
| Household & personal care | $242 | $171 | $121 |
| Entertainment & hobbies | $364 | $258 | $182 |
| Gifts, giving & other | $349 | $246 | $174 |
| Total per month | $6,806 | $4,300 | $2,867 |
| Total per year | $81,672 | $51,605 | $34,409 |
Estimates for 2026 from LifeCalculator's family budget model: BEA Regional Price Parities by state (2024, released February 2026), USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (August 2026, low-cost plan), BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024), Census median gross rent (2024) and Child Care Aware of America (2025). Figures from 2024 are adjusted by about 5% for price changes since. Savings and income taxes are not included.
What moves the number
- Childcare. Paid care for the 4-year-old adds about $977 a month. Without it, the family budget falls to about $5,829.
- Housing. The figure assumes renting at the state's typical level. Rents in big cities run well above the state average, and rural areas well below it.
- Cars. Transportation assumes typical costs for two drivers, including a car payment. Families with paid-off cars spend less.
- Price level. Overall, prices in North Dakota are 11% below the national average (BEA all-items index 89.0).
States with similar costs
- Ohio: $6,920 a month (#38)
- Nebraska: $6,871 a month (#39)
- Missouri: $6,864 a month (#40)
- Kansas: $6,796 a month (#42)
- Kentucky: $6,755 a month (#43)
- South Dakota: $6,725 a month (#44)
See all 50 states and D.C. on the cost of living by state page, or read what it costs a family of four to live in every state.
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