Is Bloomington cheaper than Fargo?

They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Bloomington and Fargo metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.

Which has higher household income, Bloomington or Fargo?

Bloomington has the higher median household income — $81,240 versus $76,945 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 6% more.

Does a paycheck go further in Bloomington or Fargo?

It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($86,853 versus $84,675).

Which has cheaper rent, Bloomington or Fargo?

Fargo has cheaper rent — a median of $997/mo versus $1,034/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Bloomington vs Fargo

Metro-area medians — Bloomington, IL Metro Area vs Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area — not the cities proper.

Fargo comes out ahead, winning 4 of the 7 clearly-decided measures.

Bloomington and Fargo cost about the same to live in, but Bloomington households earn about 6% more. Adjusted for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches about as far in either.

Their widest everyday difference: Fargo has the tighter job market — 1.9% unemployment versus 3.6%.

For your salary & household

Enter your pay and household size to see what it's really worth here — the numbers update live and the link stays shareable.

Annual salary (gross)

Household size

Bloomington, IL

$57,601

take-home / yr · 23% to tax

$61,581

real value after local prices

Fargo, ND

$61,103

take-home / yr · 19% to tax

$67,242

real value after local prices

On $75,000 for just you, Fargo leaves you about $5,661/yr better off after tax and local prices.

Take-home estimates a single filer taking the standard deduction (2025 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax) and isn't tax advice. “Real value” rebases take-home to average U.S. prices using the BEA cost-of-living index; the per-person figure uses the OECD square-root equivalence scale.

Measure

Bloomington

Fargo

Livability (CityLedger)

71/100

72/100

Cost of living (price level, US = 100)

93.5

90.9

Cost-adjusted income (pay's real value)

$86,853

$84,675

Median household income

$81,240

$76,945

Median rent

$1,034/mo

$997/mo

Median home value

$231,600

$300,200

Unemployment

3.6%

1.9%

Bachelor's degree or higher

48.1%

40.6%

Average commute

18.2 min

16.9 min

Air quality (median AQI)

Avg temperature

52°F

42°F

Choose Bloomington for

+ Median household income
+ Median home value
+ Bachelor's degree or higher

Full Bloomington profile →

Choose Fargo for

+ Median rent
+ Unemployment
+ Average commute
+ Air quality (median AQI)

Full Fargo profile →

More comparisons

Metros closest to Bloomington and Fargo on cost, income, size, and education.

Bloomington vs Iowa City→Bloomington vs Columbia→Bloomington vs Champaign→Fargo vs Sioux Falls→Fargo vs Champaign→Fargo vs Lincoln→

Bloomington vs Fargo — frequently asked

Is Bloomington cheaper than Fargo?: They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Bloomington and Fargo metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.
Which has higher household income, Bloomington or Fargo?: Bloomington has the higher median household income — $81,240 versus $76,945 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 6% more.
Does a paycheck go further in Bloomington or Fargo?: It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($86,853 versus $84,675).
Which has cheaper rent, Bloomington or Fargo?: Fargo has cheaper rent — a median of $997/mo versus $1,034/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).