State relocation profile · Federal data
North Dakota
North Dakota sits in the cheaper third of BEA RPP states, rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare below.
- 89.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $965
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,390
- Median salary
- 57.8
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, North Dakota ranks #11 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (57.8/100, C-), with its strongest marks in rent and cost of living.
- #11 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 57.8
- Life Score · C-
- 89.0
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $70,390
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: schools (6/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), North Dakota ranks #11 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $965/mo, median salary $70,390; Life Score 57.8/100 (C-), strongest in rent and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 89.0 ranks #8 of 51 states for lower prices (cheaper third of the corpus).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.0 lands in the cheaper third of US states (cuts at 93.3 / 100.7). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $965/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $70,390.
Composite Life Score 57.8/100 (C-) puts North Dakota in the top third (#11 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (4 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet ND · North Dakota 57.8/100 · C- · #11 of 51
LIFE-CM · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-RENT · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-CM Life Score C-
- RANK-UPPER #11/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 89.0
- LEAD-RENT Lead · rent
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Oklahoma ( -0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around North Dakota
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest North Dakota on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
North Dakota childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for North Dakota (infant $10,925/yr leads the book).
North Dakota Life Score breakdown
North Dakota composites to 57.8/100 (C-) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #11 of 51.
North Dakota - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Rent
Rent
90 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
86 /100
- Safety
Safety
58 /100
- Wages
Wages
54 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
52 /100
- Environment 18
Environment
18 /100
- Schools 6
Schools
6 /100
What this shows North Dakota's strongest dimensions are rent and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 6/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near North Dakota on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to North Dakota on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in North Dakota
Explore detailed relocation data for 4 metropolitan areas in North Dakota. North Dakota contains 4 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Bismarck metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
North Dakota cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; North Dakota wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.