Fargo vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fargo
Medford
The Verdict
Fargo is 12.3% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fargo would need approximately $85,484 in Medford 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 Fargo has the same purchasing power as $85,484 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $65,802 in Fargo.
Living in Fargo vs Medford
Housing Costs
Fargo's housing index of 80 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $406,000. The $146,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,492 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Fargo compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Fargo and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Fargo vs $513/month in Medford. Fargo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Fargo and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Fargo vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Fargo and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,218 in Fargo and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,374 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,288/month to housing in Fargo vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Fargo, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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