Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Jackson?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Jackson?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 44% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$723

$1,085

+50% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$803

$816

+2% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$989

$991

+0% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,121

+21% in Bismarck, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$108,200

+63% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$43,238

+44% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$42,850

+18% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.7 yr

+3.5 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

48.6%

+17.2 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

28.6%

+10.1 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

20.2 min

+4.7 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

—

Property Crime

2,417.1

—

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

65.3°F

+22.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

54.3 in

+36.5 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Bismarck, ND

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

14.9

+5% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$29.04

+59% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Bismarck, ND

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Bismarck, ND

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / MS)

+2.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

4.00%

+1.5 pp in MS

Bismarck vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Jackson?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Jackson?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).