| Index | Jamestown | North Dakota | National |
| Cost of living | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 79 | 86 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 98 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Jamestown allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Jamestown stands at 93, marking it 7% lower than the national average.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Jamestown are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Jamestown can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Jamestown an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Jamestown is 18.3% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Jamestown has a median household income of $74,186, which is 8.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Jamestown, the groceries index registers 1.4% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
The cost of living data for Jamestown shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $101,756 | $8,480 | $2,374 | $3,053 |
| Renters | $47,870 | $3,989 | $1,117 | $1,436 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| North Dakota | 5% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| North Dakota | 1.1% | 2.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ypsilanti, ND | 30 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Spiritwood, ND | 0 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Spiritwood Lake, ND | 148 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Montpelier, ND | 88 | 78 | 21.7% |
| Buchanan, ND | 55 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,817 | 93 | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Front Royal, VA | 15,811 | 109 | 8.6% |
| The Dalles, OR | 15,830 | 108 | 8.4% |
| Longwood, FL | 15,833 | 111 | 11.3% |
| Three Lakes, FL | 15,795 | 129 | 29.5% |
| Westbury, NY | 15,784 | 150 | 49.8% |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,817 | 93 | 6.5% |