Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 14% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$723
$1,496
+107% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$803
$1,357
+69% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,559
+58% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,857
+31% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$366,300
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$90,685
+17% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$49,430
+6% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
37.4 yr
+0.8 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
64.9%
+0.9 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
40.4%
+1.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
15.5 min
23.2 min
+7.7 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
96.9
+65% in Bismarck, ND
Property Crime
2,417.1
1,664.9
+31% 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
59.9°F
+16.9°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
44.3 in
+26.5 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.2
+22% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$27.20
+49% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
5.75%
+3.3 pp in VA

Bismarck vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Virginia Beach?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Virginia Beach?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).