Texas vs North Dakota: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Texas or North Dakota?
- Overall, North Dakota is 8.3% less expensive than Texas (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Texas works out to about $68,700 in North Dakota, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 26.0% less in North Dakota. Goods are 2.4% lower and other services 6.1% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 15.8% lower in North Dakota.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $65,271 in North Dakota and $58,219 in Texas (12.1% higher in North Dakota; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 86.7 in Grand Forks, ND to 91.0 in Bismarck, ND (North Dakota) and from 83.8 in Eagle Pass, TX to 103.1 in Dallas, TX (Texas), US = 100.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when North Dakota was 5.4% less expensive than Texas.
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: 26.0% lower in North Dakota than in Texas
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 89.0 |
| Goods | 98.1 | 95.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 96.5 | 71.4 |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 73.7 |
| Other services | 97.1 | 91.2 |
| Category | Texas | North Dakota | North Dakota vs Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 89.0 | −8.3% |
| Goods | 98.1 | 95.7 | −2.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 96.5 | 71.4 | −26.0% |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 73.7 | −15.8% |
| Other services | 97.1 | 91.2 | −6.1% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $58,219 | $65,271 | +12.1% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $3.70 | $4.14 | +11.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Texas | $75,000 | $68,700 | −8.3% |
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
Texas
- Eagle Pass, TX 83.8
- Texarkana, TX 84.0
- McAllen, TX 85.9
- Brownsville, TX 86.0
- Laredo, TX 87.0
- Longview, TX 89.5
- Wichita Falls, TX 89.5
- Victoria, TX 89.8
- El Paso, TX 89.9
- Beaumont, TX 90.0
- Abilene, TX 90.4
- College Station, TX 91.0
- Killeen, TX 91.1
- Lubbock, TX 91.3
- Amarillo, TX 91.8
- Tyler, TX 92.2
- San Angelo, TX 92.5
- Waco, TX 92.6
- Corpus Christi, TX 92.7
- Sherman, TX 93.8
- Odessa, TX 93.9
- San Antonio, TX 94.7
- Midland, TX 95.8
- Austin, TX 98.1
- Houston, TX 98.6
- Dallas, TX 103.1
North Dakota
- Grand Forks, ND 86.7
- Minot, ND 87.0
- Fargo, ND 90.9
- Bismarck, ND 91.0
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Texas and North Dakota has narrowed since 2008: 11.2 points then, 8.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 85.9 |
| 2009 | 96.7 | 87.9 |
| 2010 | 97.7 | 89.1 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 89.5 |
| 2012 | 97.7 | 92.0 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 92.2 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 92.5 |
| 2015 | 98.3 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 91.6 |
| 2017 | 97.4 | 88.7 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 91.2 |
| 2019 | 98.5 | 93.2 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 91.8 |
| 2021 | 98.4 | 91.0 |
| 2022 | 97.4 | 88.7 |
| 2023 | 97.1 | 88.2 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 89.0 |
Goods
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 85.0 |
| 2009 | 96.1 | 90.0 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 94.9 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 97.6 | 95.6 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 97.1 | 97.3 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 94.7 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 97.9 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 98.2 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 98.5 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 97.2 | 94.1 |
| 2023 | 98.1 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 98.1 | 95.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.0 | 63.2 |
| 2009 | 88.2 | 64.4 |
| 2010 | 89.3 | 61.9 |
| 2011 | 89.7 | 69.1 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 76.8 |
| 2013 | 91.4 | 80.1 |
| 2014 | 93.6 | 78.4 |
| 2015 | 94.0 | 78.1 |
| 2016 | 95.6 | 86.1 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 71.5 |
| 2018 | 95.2 | 72.1 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 77.0 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 72.1 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 70.8 |
| 2022 | 97.0 | 65.8 |
| 2023 | 97.5 | 69.3 |
| 2024 | 96.5 | 71.4 |
Utilities
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.4 | 73.1 |
| 2009 | 96.2 | 71.8 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 75.5 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 73.3 |
| 2012 | 93.1 | 74.3 |
| 2013 | 95.7 | 74.9 |
| 2014 | 94.9 | 73.3 |
| 2015 | 91.1 | 74.1 |
| 2016 | 91.9 | 74.9 |
| 2017 | 88.0 | 77.2 |
| 2018 | 87.5 | 84.6 |
| 2019 | 87.7 | 84.7 |
| 2020 | 85.0 | 85.6 |
| 2021 | 86.2 | 88.0 |
| 2022 | 88.7 | 83.0 |
| 2023 | 92.4 | 75.0 |
| 2024 | 87.5 | 73.7 |
Other services
- Texas
- North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.0 | 96.3 |
| 2009 | 100.4 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 95.4 |
| 2011 | 100.1 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 101.0 | 94.7 |
| 2014 | 101.1 | 94.7 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 92.1 |
| 2016 | 99.0 | 91.5 |
| 2017 | 98.9 | 91.1 |
| 2018 | 99.8 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 95.1 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 92.5 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 89.6 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 91.2 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $65,271 in North Dakota, $58,219 in Texas
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Texas
- North Dakota
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Texas | North Dakota | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $46,068 | $53,542 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $43,349 | $51,506 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $44,078 | $54,744 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $46,663 | $58,891 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $47,554 | $64,541 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $47,301 | $61,592 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $48,959 | $63,171 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $48,983 | $59,886 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $47,686 | $57,110 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $49,918 | $58,594 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $51,551 | $59,425 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $52,343 | $58,846 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $53,181 | $63,073 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $56,442 | $66,878 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $56,452 | $69,036 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $57,708 | $67,383 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $58,219 | $65,271 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Texas
- Cost of living in North Dakota
- Reverse: moving from North Dakota to Texas
- 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.