Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$930/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $930 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 19% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio
$723
$707
+2% in Bismarck, ND
1 Bedroom
$803
$730
+9% in Bismarck, ND
2 Bedroom
$989
$956
+3% in Bismarck, ND
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,287
+9% in Bismarck, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$191,500
+34% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$62,546
+19% in Bismarck, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$49,940
+5% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
35.7 yr
+2.5 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
55.9%
+9.9 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
25.5%
+13.2 pp in Bismarck, ND
Avg Commute
15.5 min
18.9 min
+3.4 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
501.7
+80% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
2,417.1
1,331.2
+45% in Bismarck, ND

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
44.3°F
+1.3°F in Green Bay, WI
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
29.5 in
+11.7 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.6
+39% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$18.17
+0% in Bismarck, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
7.65%
+5.2 pp in WI

Bismarck vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Green Bay?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Green Bay?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% 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).