Moving from Wyoming to North Dakota
Moving to North Dakota on the same salary slightly raises your real buying power (+3.8%); about $71,700 there would match what you have now. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
Equal salary in ND: $71,700
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $71,700 in North Dakota to match $75,000 in Wyoming ($3,300 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
These changes cover taxes, housing and electricity. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. They are not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $75,000 | Wyoming | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $7,670 | $7,670 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $5,738 | $5,738 |
| State income tax | $0 | $203 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $61,593 | $61,389 |
Key facts: Wyoming to North Dakota
- Median rent
- $998 → $980/mo
- Median home value
- $339,500 → $266,100
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 92.7 → 89.0
- Road distance
- ≈ 570 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- About average (53.4 → 55.7 of 100)
What changes when you move to North Dakota
- Wyoming has no state income tax on wages; North Dakota does. At $75,000 expect about $203 a year in North Dakota income tax.
- BEA's housing price index is about the same in North Dakota as in Wyoming. Median rent goes from $998 to $980 a month and the median home value from $339,500 to $266,100.
- Homeowners pay more property tax: the median bill is $2,550 in North Dakota vs $1,947 in Wyoming.
- The average home electric bill is $118 a month in North Dakota vs $108 in Wyoming (EIA 2024), about $129 a year more.
Who moves from Wyoming to North Dakota
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 191 households (392 people) filed their taxes in North Dakota after filing in Wyoming the year before. That makes North Dakota the #18 destination for people leaving Wyoming. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $65,670. Going the other way, 176 households moved from North Dakota to Wyoming, a net gain of 15 households for North Dakota.
Five-year trend
Moves from Wyoming to North Dakota peaked in 2018–19 at 205 households, then fell 7% by 2022–23. That is still down 7% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from Wyoming to North Dakota
Moving cost: $510–$7,240
Moving about 570 miles from Wyoming to North Dakota costs roughly $510 – $7,240, depending on how much of the work you hire out.
Distance between the states' population centers by road (estimate).
| Moving method | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) Truck rental, taxes and fees. Add fuel, damage coverage, lodging and your time. | $510 – $1,720 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,310 – $2,850 |
| Full-service movers Packing, loading, transport and unloading. | $2,150 – $7,240 |
These ranges are based on summer (peak-season) quotes. A move between October and April usually costs less: peak prices run 20–30% higher.
A rental truck also burns about 57 gallons of fuel over this distance. One-way truck rental prices depend on direction: a truck headed where many people are moving often costs more than the same trip in reverse.
Ranges combine 198 published quote ranges on 22 interstate routes (moveBuddha, retrieved 2026-09-24) with 47 independent published prices from U-Pack, HireAHelper and Move.org, which raised the top of several ranges. They are not quotes; get at least three written estimates.
Alaska and Hawaii ranges come from published carrier rates and moving quotes, dated in each row (Matson's household-goods rates, U-Pack, Royal Hawaiian Movers). See how we estimate.
Shipping a car from Wyoming to North Dakota
Car shipping: $720–$1,080
Shipping a sedan from Wyoming to North Dakota on an open carrier costs about $720–$1,080, typically 3–7 days in transit over about 570 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Wyoming vs North Dakota take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in ND | Take-home change | Take-home in WY | Take-home in ND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $47,900 | $0 | $42,355 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $71,700 | -$203 | $61,593 | $61,389 |
| $100,000 | $96,400 | -$691 | $79,180 | $78,489 |
| $150,000 | $145,700 | -$1,666 | $113,791 | $112,125 |
| $250,000 | $244,200 | -$3,616 | $183,182 | $179,566 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
Cost of living: Wyoming vs North Dakota
| Measure | Wyoming | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 92.7 | 89.0 |
| Housing price index | 71.1 | 71.4 |
| Utilities price index | 78.4 | 73.7 |
| Goods price index | 95.4 | 95.7 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $998 | $980 |
| Median home value | $339,500 | $266,100 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $1,947 | $2,550 |
| Electricity (residential) | 15.24¢/kWh | 14.12¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 4% | 5% |
| Median household income | $75,532 | $77,871 |
Renting and buying: Wyoming vs North Dakota
| Measure | Wyoming | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $39,920 | $39,200 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $2,099 | $1,750 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $89,976 | $74,999 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,672 | $1,540 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $12,784 | $12,299 |
Mortgage at the Freddie Mac 30-year average with 20% down, plus the median property tax and the median homeowners insurance that owners with a mortgage paid in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, so get quotes. See buying a home in North Dakota for other down payments.
Your yearly budget: Wyoming vs North Dakota
On a $75,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $42,895 a year in Wyoming and $36,485 in North Dakota if you rent: $6,410 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $56,112 and $45,725 ($10,387 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | WY | ND | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $75,000, single filer | $13,408 | $13,611 | +$203 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,292 | $1,421 | +$129 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $948 | $808 | -$140 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,191 | $2,045 | -$146 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $13,080 | $6,840 | -$6,240 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $11,976 | $11,760 | -$216 |
| Total if you rent | $42,895 | $36,485 | -$6,410 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $21,574 | $16,910 | -$4,664 |
| Property tax median home | $1,947 | $2,550 | +$603 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,672 | $1,540 | -$132 |
| Total if you buy | $56,112 | $45,725 | -$10,387 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $12,784 a year in Wyoming and $12,299 in North Dakota (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Cost of living in North Dakota cities: Fargo.
After you arrive in North Dakota
- North Dakota new resident checklist: driver license and vehicle registration deadlines.
- Taxes the year you move: part-year returns in Wyoming and North Dakota.
- How North Dakota taxes retirement income.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in North Dakota to live like I do in Wyoming?
A $75,000 salary in Wyoming works out to about $71,700 in North Dakota once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $96,400.
Will I pay less tax in North Dakota than in Wyoming?
No, about $203 more a year in income and payroll taxes on a $75,000 salary (17.9% of pay in Wyoming vs 18.1% in North Dakota). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from Wyoming to North Dakota?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 570 miles, expect roughly $510–$1,720 with a rental truck, $1,310–$2,850 with a moving container, or $2,150–$7,240 with full-service movers.
Are more people moving from Wyoming to North Dakota?
Moves from Wyoming to North Dakota peaked in 2018–19 at 205 households, then fell 7% by 2022–23. That is still down 7% from 2018–19.
How many people move from Wyoming to North Dakota?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 191 households (392 people) moved from Wyoming to North Dakota, making North Dakota the #18 destination for people leaving Wyoming. 176 households moved the other way.
Is North Dakota cheaper than Wyoming?
Overall prices in North Dakota are 4.0% lower than Wyoming (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $980 vs $998 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from Wyoming actually move
- WY to Colorado 1,874 households
- WY to Utah 958 households
- WY to Texas 827 households
- WY to Montana 700 households
- WY to Idaho 645 households
- WY to Arizona 619 households
- WY to California 609 households
- WY to Florida 501 households