Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 18% higher in Bismarck, ND. Both cities are in North Dakota, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Bismarck vs Grand Forks — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Grand Forks?
- Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Grand Forks?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
- Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Grand Forks?
- Neither — both are in North Dakota, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).