City Comparison

Fargo vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fargo

North Dakota
93
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$55,218
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

17.7%

Living in Fargo costs 17.7% less than Roswell. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fargo, you would need $91,129 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
80
Fargo
187
Roswell
Groceries
98
Fargo
101
Roswell
Utilities
92
Fargo
98
Roswell
Transportation
99
Fargo
110
Roswell
Healthcare
105
Fargo
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fargo has the same purchasing power as $91,129 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $61,726 in Fargo.

Living in Fargo vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Fargo's housing index of 80 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $647,000. The $387,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,152 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Fargo compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Fargo and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Fargo vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Fargo vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Fargo and 103 in Roswell. 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 $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,374 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Fargo, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fargo is 17.7% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Fargo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,129 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Fargo's housing index is 80 with median homes at $260,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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