What is the cost of living in Bismarck, ND?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bismarck has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Dakota, Bismarck has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Dakota's index of 94.
The standard of living in Bismarck ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 13 places we measured in North Dakota. By definition, that implies Bismarck ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Peace Garden State.
For more reading on life in Bismarck, check out:
Bismarck Cost Of Living Vs. North Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bismarck. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bismarck is 98.
The Groceries index in Bismarck is 100.
The Health index in Bismarck is 124.
The Housing index in Bismarck is 96.
The Transportation index in Bismarck is 102.
The Utilities index in Bismarck is 95.
| Living Expense | Bismarck | North Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 124 | 87 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 99 | 100 |
Bismarck Cost Of Living Compared To North Dakota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Dakota, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Dakota
- Most Affordable Cities In North Dakota
- Average Rent In North Dakota
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bismarck, ND Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Dakota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bismarck is $369,558.
The Median Rent in Bismarck is $999.
The Median Income in Bismarck is $78,387.
The Home Value To Income in Bismarck is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bismarck is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Bismarck | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $369,558 | $284,075 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $999 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $78,387 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Bismarck, ND Costs By Category
Detailed Bismarck Services costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Bismarck | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.1 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $42.24 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bismarck Groceries costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Bismarck | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.29 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.39 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.56 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.05 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bismarck Health costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Bismarck | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.31 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bismarck Transportation costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Bismarck | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.6 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bismarck Utilities costs vs. North Dakota
| Item | Bismarck | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $166.66 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.28 | $192.25 |
Bismarck SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bismarck
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bismarck. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mandan, ND has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Bismarck.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bismarck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandan, ND | 24,522 | 105 | 1.0x |
