Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Las Vegas?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Las Vegas?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 9% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$723

$992

+37% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,181

+47% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,401

+42% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,740

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$395,300

+36% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$70,723

+9% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$46,670

+11% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

38.5 yr

+0.3 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

65.8%

55.7%

+10.1 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

27.3%

+11.4 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

25.8 min

+10.3 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

433.3

+56% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,417.1

2,642.1

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

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

68.4°F

+25.4°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

5.4 in

+12.5 in in Bismarck, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.1

+7% in Bismarck, ND

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$13.83

+24% in Bismarck, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NV)

6.85%

+1.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

None

+2.5 pp in ND

Bismarck vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Las Vegas?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Las Vegas?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).