Bismarck, ND vs Dickinson, ND

Dickinson is moderately more affordable than Bismarck, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Bismarck scores 85 compared to 81 for Dickinson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bismarck can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bismarck is $992/month compared to $963/month in Dickinson — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Dickinson is more affordable at $252,400 median vs $291,400.

Median household income in Bismarck is $77,608 compared to $76,964 in Dickinson (+0.8%). Bismarck does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Bismarck spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, more than the 15% in Dickinson.