Bismarck, ND vs Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks is moderately more affordable than Bismarck, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Bismarck scores 85 compared to 79 for Grand Forks, 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 $958/month in Grand Forks — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Grand Forks is more affordable at $243,300 median vs $291,400.

Median household income in Bismarck is $77,608 compared to $63,838 in Grand Forks (+21.6%). While Bismarck is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bismarck spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, less than the 18% in Grand Forks.