Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 29% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$723
$1,103
+53% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$803
$1,024
+28% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,213
+23% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,394
+2% in Bismarck, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$224,500
+23% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$55,269
+29% in Bismarck, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$54,310
+3% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
37.0 yr
+1.2 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
46.0%
+19.8 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
33.1%
+5.6 pp in Bismarck, ND
Avg Commute
15.5 min
23.0 min
+7.5 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
1,138.2
+309% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,417.1
3,182.4
+32% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+11.9°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
43.1 in
+25.2 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.3
+37% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$29.73
+63% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in ND
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
6.60%
+4.1 pp in DE

Bismarck vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Wilmington?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Wilmington?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).