Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 1% 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.
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 Madison — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Madison?
- Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Madison?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $49,000 in Madison.
- Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Madison?
- Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Madison 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).