City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Bismarck | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $969/mo | $1,322/mo | 26.7% lower in A |
| Median home value | $283,800 | $340,200 | 16.6% lower in A |
| Median household income | $76,014 | $72,092 | 5.4% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 95.9 | 97.7 | 1.9% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 80.0 | 102.9 | 22.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 92.9 | 104.2 | 10.9% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 93.5 | 104.0 | 10.1% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Bismarck, you'd need $123,361 in Phoenix to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Bismarck, ND is about 18.9% cheaper overall than Phoenix, AZ, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 30% lower in Bismarck than in Phoenix. If you earn $80,000 in Bismarck, you'd need about $98,689 in Phoenix to keep the same standard of living.