Tonganoxie, KS vs Watford City, ND: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Watford City, ND has a modeled overall cost index 13.7% lower than Tonganoxie, KS.

Tonganoxie, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,320 / month
Watford City, ND · modeled 2BR rent
$1,400 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Tonganoxie, KS and Watford City, ND using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $854/month in Watford City, ND

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,757 in Watford City, ND

Regional cost estimates: Tonganoxie, KS uses Kansas City, MO. Watford City, ND uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 13.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$854
Savings
Annual Impact
$10.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Tonganoxie, KS

Population:6K
Cost Index:
81.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$361K

Watford City, ND

Population:6K
Cost Index:
70.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$366K

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Tonganoxie, KS

The Sunflower State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Watford City, ND

The Peace Garden State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Dakota, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Tonganoxie, KS vs Watford City, ND

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 20.6%
Tonganoxie, KS
$1,743
Watford City, ND
$1,384
Difference
$359
less
Transportation
↓ 18.4%
Tonganoxie, KS
$1,318
Watford City, ND
$1,076
Difference
$242
less
All Utilities
↓ 19.5%
Tonganoxie, KS
$610
Watford City, ND
$491
Difference
$119
less
Groceries
↓ 8.1%
Tonganoxie, KS
$1,082
Watford City, ND
$995
Difference
$87.17
less
Housing
↓ 4.1%
Tonganoxie, KS
$2,054
Watford City, ND
$1,970
Difference
$84.49
less
Healthcare
↑ 5.6%
Tonganoxie, KS
$692
Watford City, ND
$731
Difference
$38.56
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,060
To$1,160
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,160
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,400
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,720
To$1,730
↑ $10.00
Tonganoxie, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,160–$1,160/mo

Watford City, NDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,160–$1,160/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Tonganoxie, KS
$6,646
Monthly in Watford City, ND
$854
Difference

Home Values

Tonganoxie
Watford City
$361K
Median Value
$366K
↑ +3.2%
YoY Change
↑ +7.9%
↑ +43.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +20.5%

Homes in Watford City are 1% more expensive than Tonganoxie

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $5.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$470
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.8%
Rate difference

Tonganoxie, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Watford City, ND

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Dakota State Tax
Effective: 1.9%
$2.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 26.5%
$39.8K
Take-Home Pay
$9,184/month
$110.2K

Additional Tax Information

Tonganoxie, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Watford City, ND Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.8%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Tonganoxie
Watford City
46 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
66.4%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Tonganoxie, KS to Watford City, ND

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Watford City, ND for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Tonganoxie, KS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Tonganoxie to Watford City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Watford City, ND by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Tonganoxie, KS vs Watford City, ND

How do the cost estimates for Tonganoxie, KS and Watford City, ND compare?

Watford City, ND has a modeled overall cost index 13.7% lower than Tonganoxie, KS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Tonganoxie, KS, the model estimates $139,757 in Watford City, ND. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Tonganoxie, KS and Watford City, ND?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,320/month in Tonganoxie, KS and $1,400/month in Watford City, ND. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kansas and North Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

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