Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Denver?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Denver?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Denver?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 15% higher in Denver, CO. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$723

$1,497

+107% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,583

+97% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,958

+98% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$2,269

+60% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$586,700

+101% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$91,681

+18% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$62,320

+19% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

35.2 yr

+3.0 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

49.1%

+16.7 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

55.6%

+16.9 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

15.5 min

25.4 min

+9.9 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

999.3

+259% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

2,417.1

4,781.1

+98% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

43.0°F

50.2°F

+7.2°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

15.6 in

+2.3 in in Bismarck, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.16/gal

+8% in Denver, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTD (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

17.1

+21% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$15.05

+17% in Bismarck, ND

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Denver, CO

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / CO)

2.9%

+2.1 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

4.40%

+1.9 pp in CO

Bismarck vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Denver?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Denver?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).