Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Missoula?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Missoula?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 16% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$723

$755

+4% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$803

$953

+19% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,176

+19% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,676

+18% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$427,400

+47% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$65,329

+16% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$47,830

+9% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.3 yr

+3.9 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

47.8%

+18.0 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

51.7%

+13.0 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

15.5 min

16.6 min

+1.1 min in Missoula, MT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

601.9

+117% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

2,417.1

3,685.2

+52% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+2.9°F in Missoula, MT

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

14.1 in

+3.7 in in Bismarck, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.1

+7% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$10.12

+44% in Bismarck, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / MT)

None

+5.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

5.65%

+3.2 pp in MT

Bismarck vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Missoula?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Missoula?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).