The housing decision every new Bakken worker faces is usually the same one: do I try to find an apartment, or do I bring my rig and find a monthly site? This post gives you the numbers and the honest trade-offs, so you can stop guessing and just decide.
Watford City, North Dakota is not a cheap place to live. The Bakken oil boom transformed a community of a few thousand people into one of the fastest-growing cities in America over a few years, and the housing market never fully caught up with the population. What that means for workers arriving today is a constrained housing market where the options aren’t plentiful and the prices reflect the demand rather than the rural surroundings.
The two realistic long-term housing options for most workers — apartment rental or a monthly long-term RV site in North Dakota — both have genuine advantages and real trade-offs. Understanding them clearly makes the decision faster and usually saves you money. Here’s the honest comparison.
The Numbers: What Housing Actually Costs in Watford City
Let’s start where decisions should start — the actual numbers, not ranges so wide they’re useless.
Apartment Rental in Watford City
Apartment rental in Watford City during active Bakken production periods has historically run high. One-bedroom apartments in the area have ranged from $1,200 to $1,800 per month depending on unit quality and location. Two-bedroom units run $1,600 to $2,500 per month. During peak boom periods these numbers go higher; during lower activity periods they soften. Current pricing reflects 2024 market conditions that have stabilized somewhat but remain elevated relative to North Dakota norms outside the Bakken corridor.
Beyond the base rent, the total cost of an apartment includes: first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and security deposit at move-in (often equal to one month’s rent, putting move-in costs at 2-3x monthly rent before you’ve spent a night there). Utilities are typically separate and metered. For a basic 1-bedroom unit, the move-in cost alone can be $3,600 to $5,400 before ongoing monthly expenses.
Monthly RV Sites in Watford City
Full-hookup monthly RV park rates in Watford City, ND at established parks run $400 to $700 per month. This is the monthly rate for a properly serviced site — electric (50-amp preferred), water, and sewer. Most established parks bundle utilities into the monthly rate rather than metering separately. The move-in cost for a monthly RV site is simply the first month’s rent — no deposit equivalent, no last month required. You arrive, you pay your first month, you’re in.
The total cost of living in Watford City, North Dakota is meaningfully lower for workers on monthly RV sites than for apartment renters, month after month. At $550/month for an RV site versus $1,400/month for a modest 1-bedroom apartment, the gap is $850 per month — $10,200 per year. Over a two-year assignment that’s over $20,000 in savings, which changes the financial picture of a Bakken rotation significantly.
“The math on monthly RV sites versus Watford City apartments isn’t close. It’s not even the same conversation. The only reason to pay apartment rent is if you don’t have an RV to bring.”
The Flexibility Factor: Where the RV Site Has a Clear Edge
Cost is one dimension of the comparison. Flexibility is the other, and for Bakken workers whose assignments have variable end dates, the flexibility advantage of the monthly RV site over the apartment lease is significant.
A standard Watford City apartment lease is 12 months. Some landlords offer 6-month terms at a premium. Month-to-month apartment arrangements exist but typically carry an additional premium of 20-50% above the base monthly rate. For a worker on a 4-month assignment, finding an apartment means either paying month-to-month premium rates, signing a 6-month lease and paying out the remainder when the assignment ends, or finding a landlord willing to negotiate a short-term arrangement — none of which is efficient or certain.
A monthly RV site requires no long-term commitment beyond the current month. When the assignment ends, you give notice and leave. If it extends, you pay another month. If it ends suddenly — as oilfield work sometimes does — you’re not holding a 12-month lease with penalties. This flexibility has real financial value for workers whose assignment timelines aren’t fixed.
The Trade-Offs: When an Apartment Makes More Sense
The monthly RV site wins on economics and flexibility for most Bakken workers. But there are specific situations where the apartment comparison shifts.
Confirmed Long Assignments Without an RV
A worker on a confirmed 2-year assignment who doesn’t own an RV and doesn’t want to purchase one for the assignment faces a genuine calculation. Buying a used RV to live in during the assignment can be economical if it holds its value reasonably well — a $25,000 used fifth wheel purchased for a 2-year assignment and sold afterward might cost $5,000-$8,000 net after the sale, which is still significantly less than 2 years of apartment rent. But if the worker genuinely doesn’t want the RV living situation, a long lease in a decent apartment with predictable ongoing costs may be the right choice despite the higher monthly cost.
Families with School-Age Children
Workers relocating families to Watford City rather than living there alone during rotations face different considerations. School enrollment, family quality of life, and the need for stable, spacious living typically favor an apartment or rental house over an RV site when children are involved. The economics still favor the RV option, but the quality-of-life factors change the weight of the comparison.
Workers Who’ve Already Tried RV Living in Bakken Winter
A worker who went through a Bakken winter without adequate rig preparation — or whose rig simply isn’t equipped for -20°F temperatures — knows from experience that underprepared RV living in North Dakota winter is genuinely miserable. If the rig can be properly prepared (heated water hose, adequate skirting, sufficient heating capacity), RV living in North Dakota winter works. If it can’t, an apartment is the right call on quality-of-life grounds regardless of the cost difference.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
The sticker comparison of $550/month RV site versus $1,400/month apartment doesn’t capture every cost factor. Here are the ones worth accounting for on both sides.
RV site costs beyond the site rate: propane for heating (North Dakota winters), any park-specific fees (laundry, storage), winter equipment (heated water hose, skirting if needed), and the ongoing maintenance cost of the rig itself. Realistically, add $150 to $300 per month in additional costs during winter for a properly prepared rig on a North Dakota winter site.
Apartment costs beyond rent: utilities (electric, gas, water/sewer), renter’s insurance, internet service, and any parking fees. Realistically, add $200 to $400 per month in utilities and services to the base rent. A $1,400/month apartment becomes a $1,600-$1,800/month total housing cost when these are included.
The gap narrows somewhat when full costs are compared — but even accounting for additional RV costs, the monthly site at $700-$1,000 all-in is typically still $600-$800 per month less than the apartment at $1,600-$1,800 all-in. That gap compounds to $7,200 to $9,600 annually.
Total monthly cost comparison — Watford City 2024: Monthly RV site (full-hookup): $400–700 site rate + $150–300 additional costs = $550–1,000/month total. 1-bedroom apartment: $1,200–1,800 base rent + $200–400 utilities/services = $1,400–2,200/month total. Monthly savings on RV site: $400–1,200/month, $4,800–14,400/year. Move-in cost: RV site = first month only. Apartment = 2–3x monthly rent. Flexibility: RV site month-to-month. Apartment typically 6-12 month lease minimum. Winner for most Bakken workers with their own rig: monthly RV site — not close.
For the specifics of what’s available and current pricing at Watford City RV Park, the monthly RV sites in Watford City, ND page has current information. For oilfield workers specifically, the oilfield worker housing options address the specific needs of the Bakken workforce. Workers in the Beach, ND corridor to the west can check the RV park near Beach, ND page for that area. And for everything about the park, Watford City RV Park is the starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a monthly RV site cost in Watford City, ND in 2024?
Full-hookup monthly RV site rates in Watford City at established parks run $400 to $700 per month as of 2024, reflecting the current Bakken activity level and local market pricing. Most established parks include electric, water, and sewer in the monthly rate rather than metering separately — confirming what’s included when booking is advisable. The move-in cost is the first month’s payment only, with no security deposit or last-month-required structure like apartment leasing. Current rates at specific parks should be confirmed directly, as pricing adjusts with demand and site availability.
What is the average apartment rent in Watford City, ND?
Apartment rents in Watford City during the current Bakken production period range from approximately $1,200 to $1,800 per month for a one-bedroom unit and $1,600 to $2,500 for a two-bedroom. These rates reflect the constrained housing market in a community where oilfield workforce demand has historically outpaced available housing supply. Move-in costs for apartment rental typically include first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a security deposit — often bringing the initial move-in cost to 2 to 3 times the monthly rent before any occupancy. Rates fluctuate with oil prices and production levels; current availability and pricing are best confirmed through local property management companies in the Watford City area.
Is it cheaper to live in an RV than an apartment in North Dakota?
Yes, significantly, for workers who own their rig. The monthly cost difference between a full-hookup RV site ($400-700/month) and a modest apartment ($1,200-1,800/month base) in Watford City is $500 to $1,400 per month. Even accounting for additional RV costs — propane, winter equipment, rig maintenance — the total all-in monthly cost of the RV site typically runs $600 to $800 per month less than the total all-in cost of the apartment. Over a 12-month assignment, the savings range from $7,200 to $9,600. Over a 24-month assignment, the savings can exceed $20,000. The economics of RV living in the Bakken are compelling for any worker with their own rig.
What is the cheapest housing option for Bakken oil workers?
For workers with their own RV, a monthly full-hookup site at an established Watford City park is the cheapest long-term housing option at $400 to $700 per month. Employer-provided man camp housing can be lower or zero cost but comes with quality-of-life trade-offs (shared space, communal dining, lack of privacy) that make it unsustainable for many workers on multi-month rotations. For workers without an RV, apartment rental at $1,200 to $1,800 per month for a one-bedroom is typically the next most affordable option. Hotel or extended-stay rates ($100-$180/night) are the most expensive and are appropriate only as a short-term landing option while permanent housing is arranged.
Do apartments in Watford City require a long lease?
Most Watford City apartment leases require 6 to 12 months minimum. Month-to-month arrangements are available from some landlords at a premium of typically 20-50% above the base monthly rate. Short-term furnished rentals exist but are priced significantly above long-term lease rates. For workers whose assignment length is uncertain or variable, the lease commitment creates financial risk — breaking a 12-month lease typically involves a penalty of 1 to 2 months’ rent. The monthly RV site’s inherent flexibility (no lease commitment beyond the current month) is a significant advantage for workers in the Bakken environment where assignment timelines can shift.
Can I live in an RV year-round in Watford City, North Dakota?
Yes, with proper preparation. Year-round RV living in North Dakota requires specific cold-weather equipment: a heated water hose with thermostat activation at the pedestal connection (unheated hoses freeze and split at the temperatures Watford City regularly sees — below -20°F in winter), sufficient rig skirting to prevent under-rig freeze, a furnace with adequate BTU capacity for North Dakota winter conditions, and 50-amp electric service to handle the heating load. Workers arriving for their first Bakken winter should assess their rig’s cold-weather capability before October. A properly prepared rig on a full-hookup site is comfortable through even the coldest North Dakota winter; an underprepared rig on the same site is not.