Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Paterson?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Paterson?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 31% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$723

$786

+9% in Paterson, NJ

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,183

+47% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,468

+48% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,729

+22% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$335,400

+15% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$53,766

+31% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$61,430

+17% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

33.3 yr

+4.9 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

26.2%

+39.6 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

12.5%

+26.2 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

23.1 min

+7.6 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

1,010.1

+263% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

2,417.1

2,391.4

+1% 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

52.2°F

+9.2°F in Paterson, NJ

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

49.0 in

+31.2 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Paterson, NJ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

24.9

+77% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$17.68

+3% in Bismarck, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Paterson, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Paterson, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Paterson, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NJ)

6.625%

+1.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

10.75%

+8.3 pp in NJ

Bismarck vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Paterson?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Paterson?: 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 Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Paterson?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).