Fargo, ND vs Bismarck, ND: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Bismarck, ND and Fargo, ND are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fargo works out to about $75,100 in Bismarck, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.5% higher in Bismarck, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,303 a month in Bismarck and $1,103 in Fargo, $2,400 a year more in Bismarck (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $356,000 in Bismarck and $328,000 in Fargo.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Fargo and Bismarck
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | 91.0 |
| Goods | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 81.1 | 84.0 |
| Utilities | 77.3 | 75.0 |
| Other services | 91.3 | 91.2 |
| Category | Fargo | Bismarck | Bismarck vs Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | 91.0 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 95.7 | 95.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 81.1 | 84.0 | +3.5% |
| Utilities | 77.3 | 75.0 | −3.0% |
| Other services | 91.3 | 91.2 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,103 | $1,303 | +18.1% |
| Typical home value | $328,000 | $356,000 | +8.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fargo | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Fargo and Bismarck has narrowed since 2008: 7.2 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.3 | 90.0 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 92.0 |
| 2010 | 95.2 | 88.7 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 89.6 |
| 2012 | 95.9 | 95.2 |
| 2013 | 95.3 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 92.6 | 96.8 |
| 2015 | 94.5 | 93.6 |
| 2016 | 95.4 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 93.9 | 91.1 |
| 2018 | 93.0 | 91.4 |
| 2019 | 95.0 | 94.2 |
| 2020 | 92.5 | 92.6 |
| 2021 | 92.6 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 87.9 | 91.1 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 90.9 | 91.0 |
Goods
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 99.2 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 97.4 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 96.2 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 97.6 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2015 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 93.9 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.5 | 53.3 |
| 2009 | 78.1 | 64.1 |
| 2010 | 84.0 | 52.3 |
| 2011 | 87.7 | 62.7 |
| 2012 | 93.5 | 90.9 |
| 2013 | 85.9 | 90.7 |
| 2014 | 68.3 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 87.5 | 81.3 |
| 2016 | 93.5 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 88.7 | 74.9 |
| 2018 | 82.0 | 73.1 |
| 2019 | 87.5 | 82.3 |
| 2020 | 74.9 | 73.8 |
| 2021 | 78.8 | 91.8 |
| 2022 | 63.6 | 79.0 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 75.7 |
| 2024 | 81.1 | 84.0 |
Utilities
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2009 | 81.3 | 76.4 |
| 2010 | 80.5 | 77.0 |
| 2011 | 82.5 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 82.5 | 80.6 |
| 2013 | 82.0 | 79.8 |
| 2014 | 77.9 | 74.9 |
| 2015 | 78.1 | 75.1 |
| 2016 | 76.8 | 73.6 |
| 2017 | 82.0 | 78.9 |
| 2018 | 89.2 | 86.3 |
| 2019 | 88.7 | 85.8 |
| 2020 | 88.4 | 87.4 |
| 2021 | 90.9 | 88.3 |
| 2022 | 83.0 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 79.4 | 76.0 |
| 2024 | 77.3 | 75.0 |
Other services
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 100.0 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 99.6 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 98.4 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 95.1 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 95.7 | 95.5 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 94.7 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2022 | 92.2 | 92.5 |
| 2023 | 89.8 | 89.6 |
| 2024 | 91.3 | 91.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,303 in Bismarck vs $1,103 in Fargo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $815 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $796 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $785 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $813 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $808 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $801 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $801 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $809 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $818 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $811 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $798 | $887 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $816 | $904 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $826 | $925 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $828 | $927 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $833 | $926 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $832 | $924 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $843 | $931 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $851 | $968 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $842 | $941 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $864 | $968 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $880 | $951 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $878 | $970 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $899 | $1,005 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $909 | $971 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $932 | $1,003 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $940 | $1,006 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $949 | $1,038 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $961 | $1,057 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $973 | $1,074 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $995 | $1,101 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,014 | $1,119 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,021 | $1,120 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,030 | $1,161 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,041 | $1,188 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,060 | $1,192 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,038 | $1,186 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,058 | $1,242 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,065 | $1,255 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,067 | $1,278 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,080 | $1,294 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,092 | $1,299 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,103 | $1,303 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $356,000 in Bismarck vs $328,000 in Fargo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fargo, ND
- Bismarck, ND
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Bismarck, ND | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $204K | $254K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $210K | $259K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $217K | $261K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $223K | $260K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $226K | $260K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $229K | $258K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $232K | $255K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $236K | $253K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $238K | $253K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $238K | $254K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $238K | $254K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $238K | $254K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $240K | $253K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $240K | $254K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $240K | $254K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $239K | $252K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $243K | $253K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $248K | $255K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $250K | $257K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $252K | $258K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $255K | $258K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $255K | $259K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $256K | $263K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $259K | $266K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $261K | $269K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $268K | $277K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $276K | $284K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $280K | $289K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $287K | $297K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $295K | $304K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $296K | $304K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $297K | $307K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $298K | $306K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $302K | $312K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $303K | $316K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $300K | $316K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $302K | $317K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $306K | $320K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $310K | $323K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $312K | $328K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $315K | $331K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $315K | $334K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $317K | $338K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $323K | $345K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $326K | $350K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $326K | $352K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $328K | $356K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.