North Dakota vs California: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in North Dakota or California?
- Overall, California is 24.5% more expensive than North Dakota (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in North Dakota works out to about $93,300 in California, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 116.1% more in California. Goods are 10.9% higher and other services 12.5% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 115.7% higher in California.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $63,028 in California and $65,271 in North Dakota (3.4% lower in California; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.2 in El Centro, CA to 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (California) and from 86.7 in Grand Forks, ND to 91.0 in Bismarck, ND (North Dakota), US = 100.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when California was 19.3% more expensive than North Dakota.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 116.1% higher in California than in North Dakota
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | 110.7 |
| Goods | 95.7 | 106.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | 154.3 |
| Utilities | 73.7 | 158.9 |
| Other services | 91.2 | 102.6 |
| Category | North Dakota | California | California vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | 110.7 | +24.5% |
| Goods | 95.7 | 106.1 | +10.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | 154.3 | +116.1% |
| Utilities | 73.7 | 158.9 | +115.7% |
| Other services | 91.2 | 102.6 | +12.5% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $65,271 | $63,028 | −3.4% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.14 | $6.03 | +45.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in North Dakota | $75,000 | $93,300 | +24.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate North Dakota figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
North Dakota
- Grand Forks, ND 86.7
- Minot, ND 87.0
- Fargo, ND 90.9
- Bismarck, ND 91.0
California
- El Centro, CA 95.2
- Merced, CA 98.3
- Visalia, CA 99.8
- Redding, CA 100.7
- Bakersfield, CA 100.9
- Chico, CA 101.2
- Hanford, CA 101.6
- Fresno, CA 102.2
- Modesto, CA 104.1
- Yuba City, CA 104.2
- Stockton, CA 105.1
- Riverside, CA 106.4
- Sacramento, CA 106.7
- Santa Rosa, CA 107.8
- Vallejo, CA 108.5
- San Luis Obispo, CA 108.6
- Santa Maria, CA 108.8
- Salinas, CA 109.0
- Santa Cruz, CA 109.9
- San Jose, CA 110.4
- Oxnard, CA 110.5
- San Diego, CA 111.9
- Napa, CA 112.6
- Los Angeles, CA 113.6
- San Francisco, CA 115.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between North Dakota and California has narrowed since 2008: 25.3 points then, 21.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.9 | 111.2 |
| 2009 | 87.9 | 110.7 |
| 2010 | 89.1 | 109.7 |
| 2011 | 89.5 | 109.5 |
| 2012 | 92.0 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 92.2 | 109.7 |
| 2014 | 92.5 | 109.9 |
| 2015 | 91.1 | 110.7 |
| 2016 | 91.6 | 110.0 |
| 2017 | 88.7 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 91.2 | 111.9 |
| 2019 | 93.2 | 111.1 |
| 2020 | 91.8 | 111.9 |
| 2021 | 91.0 | 111.9 |
| 2022 | 88.7 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 88.2 | 112.2 |
| 2024 | 89.0 | 110.7 |
Goods
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.0 | 107.4 |
| 2009 | 90.0 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 94.9 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 103.6 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 95.6 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 104.3 |
| 2015 | 97.3 | 105.5 |
| 2016 | 96.0 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 94.7 | 104.5 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 105.5 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 106.2 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 106.7 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 108.1 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 108.4 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 106.1 |
Housing (rents)
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 63.2 | 161.4 |
| 2009 | 64.4 | 160.4 |
| 2010 | 61.9 | 158.0 |
| 2011 | 69.1 | 157.1 |
| 2012 | 76.8 | 156.2 |
| 2013 | 80.1 | 155.7 |
| 2014 | 78.4 | 157.9 |
| 2015 | 78.1 | 158.0 |
| 2016 | 86.1 | 160.1 |
| 2017 | 71.5 | 162.5 |
| 2018 | 72.1 | 163.8 |
| 2019 | 77.0 | 164.6 |
| 2020 | 72.1 | 166.3 |
| 2021 | 70.8 | 165.0 |
| 2022 | 65.8 | 160.1 |
| 2023 | 69.3 | 157.8 |
| 2024 | 71.4 | 154.3 |
Utilities
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 73.1 | 111.4 |
| 2009 | 71.8 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 75.5 | 117.2 |
| 2011 | 73.3 | 115.3 |
| 2012 | 74.3 | 117.1 |
| 2013 | 74.9 | 121.4 |
| 2014 | 73.3 | 128.3 |
| 2015 | 74.1 | 129.3 |
| 2016 | 74.9 | 129.5 |
| 2017 | 77.2 | 130.7 |
| 2018 | 84.6 | 125.1 |
| 2019 | 84.7 | 131.0 |
| 2020 | 85.6 | 133.5 |
| 2021 | 88.0 | 144.2 |
| 2022 | 83.0 | 152.3 |
| 2023 | 75.0 | 147.3 |
| 2024 | 73.7 | 158.9 |
Other services
- North Dakota
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.3 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 96.1 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 95.4 | 101.7 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 95.5 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 94.7 | 101.8 |
| 2014 | 94.7 | 101.9 |
| 2015 | 92.1 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 91.5 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 91.1 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 104.3 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 101.9 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 92.5 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 89.6 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 91.2 | 102.6 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $63,028 in California, $65,271 in North Dakota
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- North Dakota
- California
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| North Dakota | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $53,542 | $43,788 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $51,506 | $42,377 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $54,744 | $43,503 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $58,891 | $44,844 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $64,541 | $46,162 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $61,592 | $45,826 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $63,171 | $47,472 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $59,886 | $50,054 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $57,110 | $51,802 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $58,594 | $52,569 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $59,425 | $53,523 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $58,846 | $55,931 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $63,073 | $59,993 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $66,878 | $63,373 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $69,036 | $59,126 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $67,383 | $60,100 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $65,271 | $63,028 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in North Dakota
- Cost of living in California
- Reverse: moving from California to North Dakota
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.