Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 6% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$723
$995
+38% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$803
$1,126
+40% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,384
+40% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,662
+17% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$280,300
+4% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$73,055
+6% in Bismarck, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$59,320
+13% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
33.5 yr
+4.7 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
53.2%
+12.6 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
43.5%
+4.8 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
15.5 min
22.3 min
+6.8 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
619
+123% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,417.1
2,897.2
+20% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+4.1°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
28.5 in
+10.7 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.96/gal
+3% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$14.79
+19% in Bismarck, ND

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 / MN)
5%
6.875%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
9.85%
+7.3 pp in MN

Bismarck vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or St. Paul?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or St. Paul?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).