| Index | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 93 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 74 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 99 | 100 |

The cost of living in Fergus Falls affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Fergus Falls is 93, which is 7% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Fergus Falls closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Fergus Falls can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Fergus Falls an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Fergus Falls, the median home price is 23.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 33.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Fergus Falls come in at $62,922, which is 22.6% lower than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Fergus Falls, is 26.5% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Fergus Falls comes in at 3.3% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The Fergus Falls cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $90,451 | $7,538 | $2,110 | $2,714 |
| Renters | $37,616 | $3,135 | $878 | $1,129 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Minnesota | 5.35% | 9.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Foxhome, MN | 113 | 80 | 19.7% |
| Erhard, MN | 169 | 81 | 19.0% |
| Dalton, MN | 324 | 86 | 14.2% |
| Ashby, MN | 436 | 88 | 11.6% |
| Rothsay, MN | 514 | 89 | 10.7% |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 14,278 | 93 | 7.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hazel Crest, IL | 14,284 | 97 | 2.8% |
| Royal Kunia, HI | 14,269 | 180 | 79.9% |
| Riverhead, NY | 14,287 | 133 | 32.7% |
| Maumee, OH | 14,267 | 92 | 8.0% |
| Hidalgo, TX | 14,290 | 88 | 12.0% |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 14,278 | 93 | 7.5% |