Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
North Dakota vs South Dakota comes down to what you value. South Dakota is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 0% lower than North Dakota, so the same paycheck stretches further. South Dakota ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#14 vs #23), balancing cost against quality of life. North Dakota is strongest on air quality and weakest on climate; South Dakota is strongest on air quality and weakest on climate.
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 0.84 16% below average | 0.84 16% below average |
| Best Life Rank | #23 | #14 |
| Cost of living | #9 | #8 |
| Climate | #47 | #46 |
| Healthcare | #20 | #21 |
| Schools | #24 | #25 |
| Safety | #18 | #37 |
| Economy | #32 | #18 |
| Air quality | #8 | #4 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in North Dakota, you'd need about $99,500 in South Dakota.
To live the way $100,000 does in South Dakota, you'd need about $100,500 in North Dakota.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after North Dakota taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after South Dakota taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›South Dakota is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 0% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.84 versus 0.84. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, South Dakota ranks higher (#14 vs #23). But 'better' depends on your priorities — North Dakota leads on air quality while South Dakota leads on air quality.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in North Dakota is roughly equivalent to $99,500 in South Dakota for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.