True Cost of Living Report: Minot, ND (2026)

Let's get one thing straight: the Cost of Living Index (COL) figure of 88.6 is a statistical sedative. It tells you that Minot is roughly 11.4% cheaper than the national average, but it fails to account for the specific ways your wallet gets drained in the Upper Midwest. This index averages out the cost of a gallon of milk in Los Angeles against a gallon in Minot, ignoring the fact that your heating bill in January will make your eyes water. If you are looking for a cheap place to live, you will find it here. But if you are looking for a place where your money stretches without constant vigilance, you need to look at the raw math.

The baseline number floating around is $77,431 for a median household. For a single earner aiming for genuine comfort—not just survival, but the ability to save and breathe—that number needs to be closer to $42,587 annually. This assumes a "comfort" level defined as following a 50/30/20 budget (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) without drowning in debt. However, this "comfort" is fragile. It assumes you don't have a catastrophic vehicle repair (a distinct possibility with the freeze-thaw cycle) and that your employer covers a decent chunk of your health insurance. For a family, that baseline shifts aggressively upward, often requiring a second income to maintain the same standard of living a single person enjoys on $42k.

The Big Items

Housing: The Equity Gamble
The housing market in Minot is currently sitting in a strange limbo. With a median home price of $284,450, the entry point looks deceptively reasonable compared to the coasts. However, buying is not automatically the financial masterstroke it’s made out to be. Interest rates, hovering in the 6.5% - 7.2% range for standard 30-year fixed mortgages, turn that median price into a monthly principal and interest payment of roughly $1,800 to $1,900 before you even factor in property taxes or insurance. For a single earner making $42,587, that mortgage payment consumes nearly 50% of your gross monthly income. That is not "comfort"; that is house poverty.

Renting is equally tricky. While specific 1BR/2BR averages weren't provided, the market heat comes from the oil industry fluctuations. When oil is up, rental vacancies drop to near zero, and landlords have zero incentive to keep rents flat. You are competing with transient oil workers who have expense accounts, driving up the "sticker price" for locals. The "trap" here is the property tax. North Dakota property taxes are not trivial. On that $284,450 home, you could be looking at an annual tax bill of $3,000 to $4,500 depending on the specific Ward County levies. That adds $250 to $375 a month to your housing cost permanently. If you are a relocator, do not assume renting is a temporary stopgap; in this market, it might be the only way to keep your fixed costs under $1,500/month without getting nickel-and-dimed by HOA fees in the newer developments.

Taxes: The Income vs. Consumption Squeeze
North Dakota has a progressive income tax structure, which sounds fancy but means you get taxed more the more you earn. For a single earner making $42,587, you fall into the 1.51% to 2.04% bracket. It’s not California, but it’s not zero. The real hit, however, is the sales tax. Minot sits at a combined sales tax rate of roughly 6.0% (5% state + 1% city). This might seem low, but remember: sales tax applies to everything except groceries. It applies to your car repair, your new winter coat, your dinner out, and your furniture.

The "hidden tax" is the lack of deduction opportunity. North Dakota doesn't offer the massive property tax deductions found in other states to the same degree. You are paying the bill, largely in full. For a family earning $90,000, the state income tax bite moves to the 2.52% bracket, costing you over $2,200 a year just for the privilege of working in the state. While the total tax burden is lower than the national average, the lack of tax relief on essentials like heating fuel (which is a necessity, not a luxury) acts as a regressive tax on anyone living north of the 45th parallel.

Groceries & Gas: The North Dakota Premium
Groceries in Minot are roughly 3% to 5% higher than the national baseline. Why? Logistics. You are at the end of the supply chain. Getting fresh produce from California or Mexico to Minot involves significant freight costs, which are passed directly to the consumer. You will pay a premium for fresh vegetables in February. However, you get a slight break on meat and dairy, as the region is a production hub. The real variance is in "convenience foods"—expect to pay 10% more for processed goods compared to Minneapolis or Chicago.

Gasoline is the wild card. While the US average fluctuates, Minot often sees prices $0.15 to $0.30 higher per gallon due to the transportation distance from refineries and the seasonal "summer blend" mandates. If you are driving a truck or SUV (a near necessity here), a $4.50/gallon price point at the pump adds up fast. On a 20-mile commute, that’s an extra $400/year compared to the national average. You need to calculate your fuel budget assuming the worst-case scenario, not the average.

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

Insurance and The Elements
Your auto insurance premium will likely shock you. North Dakota has high rates of uninsured motorists and severe weather claims (hail is a frequent and devastating visitor). Expect to pay $150 to $200/month for decent coverage on a newer vehicle. Furthermore, standard homeowners or renters insurance often excludes specific flood zones. If you are near the Mouse River, you will be required to carry flood insurance, which can add $800 to $1,200 annually to your housing costs.

The Parking and HOA Grind
Minot is car-dependent. Public transport is sparse. If you work downtown, parking is not free. Monthly downtown parking permits can run $40 to $60, and tickets are aggressively issued. In the newer subdivisions on the south side, HOA fees are becoming standard. These aren't just for lawn care; they cover snow removal from sidewalks (a massive liability if you skip it). HOAs in Minot range from $75 to $150/month. If you buy a home in one of these developments, that is a permanent bill that rises annually.

The "Polar Vortex" Utility Tax
Electricity rates at 11.51 cents/kWh seem cheap. They are not. In January, when the temperature hits -20°F, your electric heating system runs 24/7. A 1,500 sq. ft. home can easily see an electric bill of $350 to $450 for a single month. There is no way around this cost. You cannot "cut back" on heating when the pipes will burst. You must budget for $2,000+ in heating costs over the winter months.

Lifestyle Inflation

The "cheap" label of Minot evaporates the moment you try to socialize. A night out is not a cheap affair. A mid-range dinner with two drinks will easily run $60 to $80 per person. There is a finite number of restaurants, and they charge a premium for the limited entertainment options.

• Craft Beer: A pint at a local brewery: $7.00 - $8.50.
• Gym Membership: A standard commercial gym (Planet Fitness style): $25/month. A specialized CrossFit or boutique gym: $120 - $150/month.
• Coffee: A standard latte at a local shop: $5.50 - $6.00.
• Cinema: A movie ticket on a Friday night: $14.00.

The danger here is the "boredom spending." With long winters and limited outdoor activities from November to April, people spend money on shopping, dining, and drinking simply to get out of the house. A "frugal" lifestyle requires you to have hobbies that don't cost money, which is difficult when the outside environment is hostile.

Salary Scenarios

The following table breaks down what you actually take home versus what you spend. These figures assume single filer status, standard deduction, and approximate FICA taxes.

Scenario Analysis:

• Frugal ($38k Single / $65k Family): This is a tightrope walk. For the single earner at $38k (approx. $2,650 net), you are looking at a housing budget of roughly $800/month. This likely means a roommate or a very old, unrenovated apartment. You have almost zero margin for error. A $500 car repair bill wipes out your savings for three months. The family at $65k ($4,550 net) is in a similar bind; housing will eat $1,600+ of that, leaving very little for the grocery inflation mentioned earlier. You are "house poor" and "car poor" simultaneously.
• Moderate ($52k Single / $90k Family): This is the true "Median" baseline. The single earner at $52k ($3,550 net) can afford a modest $1,100 apartment or a mortgage on a $250k home without sweating the utility bills. You can afford a car payment and a gym membership. The family at $90k ($6,100 net) is in the "Minot Sweet Spot." They can afford a median home ($284k), childcare, and still save. This is the income level where the "cheap" cost of living actually feels real.
• Comfortable ($75k Single / $125k Family): At this level, money stops being a primary stressor. The single earner at $75k ($5,000 net) can max out a Roth IRA, pay a mortgage on a $400k home, and drive a new vehicle. The family at $125k ($8,200 net) is living very well by Minot standards. They can absorb the high insurance costs, eat out weekly, and likely have a second property or recreational vehicle. This is the income required to truly leverage the low tax environment.