Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Phoenix?

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

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Phoenix?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$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 Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 1% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$723

$1,127

+56% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,253

+56% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,493

+51% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,771

+25% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$381,900

+31% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$77,041

+1% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$51,380

+2% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

57.1%

+8.7 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

32.3%

+6.4 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

25.7 min

+10.2 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

799.6

+188% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

2,417.1

2,338.9

+3% 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

75.1°F

+32.1°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

8.2 in

+9.7 in in Bismarck, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.2

+8% in Phoenix, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$24.74

+36% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / AZ)

5.6%

+0.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

about equal

Bismarck vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Phoenix?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Phoenix?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).