Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 10% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$723
$851
+18% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$803
$879
+9% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,070
+8% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,379
+3% in Bismarck, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$248,200
+15% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$69,991
+10% in Bismarck, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$49,800
+5% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
33.4 yr
+4.8 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
55.8%
+10.0 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
41.0%
+2.3 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
15.5 min
18.3 min
+2.8 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
363.1
+31% in Lincoln, NE
Property Crime
2,417.1
2,484.4
+3% in Lincoln, NE

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
51.5°F
+8.5°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
30.9 in
+13.0 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.3
+6% in Bismarck, ND
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$20.10
+10% in Lincoln, NE

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 / NE)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
4.55%
+2.0 pp in NE

Bismarck vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Lincoln?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Lincoln?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).