North Dakota
Snapshot
North Dakota retirement guide
Retiring in North Dakota
Open plains and badlands, low taxes, and a low cost of living. The winters here are some of the coldest and longest in the country.
Could fit
You want low taxes, cheap housing, and a quiet small-city pace. It helps if you already have roots or family on the northern plains.
Look closely at
You dislike the cold. Long subzero winters and a lot of empty space between towns are simply part of life here.
Cost of living
$4,450/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, North Dakota comes out near $4,450 a month.
#8 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.
North Dakota runs about 11% below the national average on everyday prices.
Cost of recreation
103
Our index of how North Dakota's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.
#21 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.
North Dakota's modeled hobby costs run about 3% above the national average. The modeled average is about $1,027 a year across the activity basket.
Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.
How the plan models North Dakota
The state lines the calculator actually changes.
Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what North Dakota actually feels like.
Tax and Medicare
Check the North Dakota income picture.
Estimate how North Dakota treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Cost of living
$4,450/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, North Dakota prices translate to about $4,450 a month.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesState income tax
~2.5%
North Dakota does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 2.5% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in North Dakota, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance.
Tax FoundationSocial Security
Not taxed
North Dakota does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
AARP / IRS Pub. 915Property tax
1.0%
Property tax is local, but the North Dakota state-level planning rate used here is 1.0% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $3,400 a year before county detail.
Tax FoundationSales tax
7.1%
Tax Foundation puts North Dakota's 2026 average combined state and local sales tax near 7.1%, ranked 22 among states in that table.
Tax FoundationVehicle costs
Registration line
Vehicle costs still belong in the budget, but the vehicle-tax source used here does not flag North Dakota as a state where value-based vehicle property tax is the main planning issue.
FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guideLong-term care in North Dakota
The care cliff, in North Dakota dollars.
CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.
Assisted living
$4,729/mo
About $56,745 a year, 24% lower than the national median.
Nursing home (semi-private)
$11,528/mo
About $138,335 a year, 20% higher than the national median.
Home caregiver
$6,483/mo
About $77,792 a year, 3% lower than the national median.
Activities & recreation in North Dakota
What there is to do, with the sources.
How the things people retire for actually look in North Dakota. Each links to the full activity guide.
Fargo Parks District and Bismarck Parks and Recreation Department both operate public pickleball courts at community recreation centers, with open-play times available to adults of all ages. The sport has grown rapidly in the state, with new courts added in smaller communities including Minot and Grand Forks as part of parks improvement projects.
Estimated annual hobby cost
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
Published input
Fargo Parks Sports Center indoor pickleball drop-in open play; $5 per person during open play hours (morning); courts are reservation-only from 1pm
Fargo Parks Sports Center - Pickleball Courts · as of 2026-05Where to go
The Plains Art Museum in Fargo and the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck are the state's largest cultural institutions, both offering free or low-cost admission and educational programming. The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, and regional theater companies perform from fall through spring across the state.
Estimated annual hobby cost
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Published input
State Historical Society of North Dakota (Missouri River History Center) general admission; senior rate not separately published; standard adult admission listed
State Historical Society of North Dakota · as of 2025Where to go
North Dakota Aging Services funds six Area Agencies on Aging covering the state's regions, supporting senior centers, congregate dining, and volunteer programs for adults 60 and older. The Senior Companion and RSVP programs place older volunteers in schools, nonprofit organizations, and social service agencies throughout the state.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.
Published input
AgeWell Center Bismarck (formerly Burleigh County Senior Center) - programs available to adults 60+; most drop-in activities are free or low-cost; no published annual membership fee found
AgeWell Center Bismarck · as of 2025Where to go
North Dakota residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a fishing license through the Game and Fish Department; there is no age-based senior discount, but free fishing days are designated annually for residents. Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, and the Missouri River system are among the state's top walleye, northern pike, and chinook salmon fisheries.
Estimated annual hobby cost
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Published input
ND resident annual fishing license, ages 16+; senior citizen (65+) pay $10; requires a Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 additional)
Published range: $10 to $27.
ND Game and Fish - Resident Licenses and Requirements · as of 2025Lake Sakakawea, formed by Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, has more than 1,500 miles of shoreline and numerous public boat ramps managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Jamestown Reservoir, Lake Oahe (shared with South Dakota), and Homme Lake in the northeast provide additional public launch sites for powerboats, fishing boats, and kayak access.
Estimated annual hobby cost
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Published input
ND motorboat registration fee for motorboats 16 to less than 20 feet; 2026-2028 three-year cycle (prorated); plus $15 Aquatic Nuisance Species fee per period
Published range: $30 to $60.
ND Game and Fish - Watercraft Registration and Renewal · as of 2026-01Where to go
The North Dakota Golf Association lists more than 100 courses statewide, with numerous public and semi-private layouts in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot, most open from May through October given the northern climate. Municipal courses in these cities operate at accessible public rates, and several parks districts offer discounted senior memberships for residents.
Estimated annual hobby cost
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Published input
Edgewood Golf Course (Fargo Parks), 18-hole public course, adult daily greens fee; senior (62+) pay $36; rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $26 to $45.
Fargo Golf - Edgewood Golf Course · as of 2026-05Where to go
North Dakota State University Extension operates Master Gardener programs in counties across the state, offering research-based guidance suited to the short growing season (roughly late May to mid-September at latitude). The International Peace Garden on the North Dakota-Manitoba border maintains formal and native plantings open to visitors from May through fall.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
Published input
International Peace Garden visitor admission, day-use; gardens at state parks accessible with annual permit; no dedicated community garden plot fee data found from official ND source
ND Parks and Recreation · as of 2026Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the western Badlands offers rugged backcountry trails as well as more moderate loop walks around the South and North Units, with scenic overlooks accessible by vehicle for visitors who prefer shorter walks. The Maah Daah Hey Trail spans 144 miles through the Badlands for those seeking longer routes, while parks in Fargo and Bismarck maintain paved riverside trails for walking year-round.
Estimated annual hobby cost
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Published input
ND State Parks annual single vehicle entrance permit; senior residents (65+) pay $28; daily vehicle fee is $7
Published range: $28 to $61.
ND Parks and Recreation - Permits and Gift Cards · as of 2026Where to go
Things to do in North Dakota
What a week can look like.
Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects colorful badlands where bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs roam. You can take it in from scenic drives, overlooks, and ranger programs without ever facing a long hike.
Use the state parks and Missouri River lakes
State parks line Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River, with fishing, boating, and easy trails. Summers are warm and the daylight runs long, so the short warm season is when everyone gets outside.
Spend time in historic Medora
Medora sits at the gateway to the badlands, with history sites, a seasonal outdoor musical, and easy access to the national park. It makes a low-key base for exploring the western part of the state.
What to know about North Dakota
What can change the month.
Low income tax and Social Security exemption
North Dakota runs one of the lowest state income tax structures in the country, and most retirees pay no state tax on Social Security. Property and sales taxes stay modest too, so the overall tax load is light.
North Dakota Office of State Tax CommissionerWinters are long, cold, and windy
North Dakota gets some of the harshest winters in the lower 48. Expect subzero cold, blizzards, and wind chill that turns dangerous. Heating bills, winter driving, and short daylight all weigh on you from late fall into spring.
Care and services can be far apart
Outside Fargo, Bismarck, and a few other cities, the state is thinly settled, so specialty care and major services can be a long drive. Frequent medical visits make distance to a larger hospital part of the move math.
Weighing two states?
Put North Dakota next to another state.
Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.
Common questions
Retiring in North Dakota, answered.
Does North Dakota tax retirement income?
North Dakota does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in North Dakota, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance. North Dakota does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 2.5% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context.
AARP: how states tax retirement incomeIs North Dakota cheaper or more expensive than average?
BEA regional price parities put North Dakota about 11.0% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a North Dakota translation.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesWhat does long-term care cost in North Dakota?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, North Dakota assisted living runs about $56,745 a year (24% lower than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $138,335 a year (20% higher than the national median).
CareScout / Genworth Cost of CareIs North Dakota affordable for retirees?
Yes, on the money side. The cost of living is low, property taxes are low, and the state runs one of the lowest income tax structures in the country, with Social Security exempt for most retirees. The trade-off is the long, very cold winters and the distances between towns.
North Dakota Office of State Tax CommissionerSources
Build the full map
See what North Dakota does to your retirement plan.
Enter your real spending, income, home, and dreams. The planner applies the North Dakota tax and cost assumptions for you, then shows the years the money has to last.
Start my map