Fargo vs Newport News
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fargo
Newport News
The Verdict
Newport News is 1.1% less expensive than Fargo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fargo would need approximately $74,194 in Newport News 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 $74,194 in Newport News.
Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $75,815 in Fargo.
Living in Fargo vs Newport News
Housing Costs
Fargo's housing index of 80 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $261,000. The $1,000 difference in home prices means roughly $60 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Fargo compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Fargo and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Fargo vs $470/month in Newport News. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Fargo and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Fargo vs $416 in Newport News. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Fargo and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,374 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Fargo, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 12 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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