Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Raleigh?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Raleigh?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 6% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$723

$1,301

+80% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,323

+65% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,462

+48% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,715

+21% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$377,800

+30% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$82,424

+6% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$51,990

+1% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.7 yr

+3.5 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

51.2%

+14.6 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

52.9%

+14.2 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

15.5 min

23.4 min

+7.9 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

491.5

+77% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

2,417.1

2,838.4

+17% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+17.6°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

46.0 in

+28.2 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Raleigh, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

14.7

+4% in Raleigh, NC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$30.10

+65% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Bismarck, ND

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Raleigh, NC

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Bismarck, ND

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / NC)

4.75%

+0.3 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

3.99%

+1.5 pp in NC

Bismarck vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Raleigh?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Raleigh?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).