Bellevue vs Fargo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Fargo
The Verdict
Fargo is 69.9% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $44,146 in Fargo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $44,146 in Fargo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fargo equals $127,419 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Fargo
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Fargo's 80, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $260,000. The $1.0M difference in home prices means roughly $67,668 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,000/mo in Fargo, a monthly difference of $1,525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 98 in Fargo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $466/month in Fargo. Fargo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $732/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 92 in Fargo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $368 in Fargo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 105 in Fargo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $55,218 in Fargo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $59,374 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,288/month in Fargo. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Fargo, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 169 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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