North Dakota has seen an impressive increase in wages over the past decade or so.

Jamestown Sun reports that Approve.com "ranks North Dakota third among states for wage increases between 2010 and 2020." That is because the wage average in the state has risen 45% over the past decade. In 2010, North Dakota's average wage was reported $38,128 and the average was $55,465 in 2020. And, by 2030, North Dakota's average salary is looking to grow to $88,609 - ranking us 17th on the list for projected income increases.

<i>Approve.com</i> "ranks North Dakota third among states for wage increases between 2010 and 2020."
Magnifying glass over Jobs section of newspaper classifieds
zimmytws
loading...

Wages may be on the rise, but it is still kind of annoyingly expensive to live in western North Dakota.

I lived in Colorado for a couple of years and it was definitely expensive to live there. When I first moved there, there were two of us in a one-bedroom apartment, which cost around $1,200 per month with all the utilities and such. Then, our two-bedroom with three people cost around $1,600 with all that stuff. And both of those places were on the low end of rent pricing!

Now, I can't complain about the price of my current apartment, because I got a steal. I'm talking washer and dryer in-unit, garage, patio, and central air conditioner for less than $800. But my first apartment in Bismarck cost over $800 and had none of those amenities and I paid all utilities. And I know many people who complain about how hard it is to find affordable rents or mortgages in town.

Pile of Money
Credit: ThinkStock
loading...

I know people are paying more than I would ever consider for dwellings that are only just liveable. I mean, maybe the cost of living would be worth it if apartments had things like pools, grills, dog parks, community rooms, and events. But that is a rare find in North Dakota. Not only that, it is not exactly like any of our cities offer any type of entertainment that makes the cost of living worth the price of housing either.

The 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest

 

 

 

 

More From Hot 975