Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 49% higher in Naperville, IL. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$723
$1,713
+137% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$803
$1,594
+99% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,889
+91% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$2,446
+72% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$509,900
+75% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$150,937
+94% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$54,720
+4% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
40.1 yr
+1.9 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
65.8%
74.3%
+8.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
71.7%
+33.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
15.5 min
31.4 min
+15.9 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
85.7
+69% in Bismarck, ND
Property Crime
2,417.1
892.2
+63% in Bismarck, ND

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
49.9°F
+6.9°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
36.9 in
+19.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.9
+41% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$19.71
+8% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
4.95%
+2.5 pp in IL

Bismarck vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Naperville?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Naperville?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).