Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Tucson?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Tucson?

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

Bismarck vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 30% 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

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$723

$795

+10% in Tucson, AZ

1 Bedroom

$803

$891

+11% in Tucson, AZ

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,146

+16% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,520

+7% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$242,200

+17% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$54,546

+30% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$47,760

+9% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.6 yr

+3.6 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

51.7%

+14.1 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

30.2%

+8.5 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

22.2 min

+6.7 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

645.8

+132% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

2,417.1

3,460

+43% in Tucson, AZ

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

70.2°F

+27.2°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

11.6 in

+6.2 in in Bismarck, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.2

+8% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$24.74

+36% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tucson, 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 Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Tucson?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Tucson?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Tucson 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).