Bismarck vs Fort Collins
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bismarck
Fort Collins
The Verdict
Bismarck is 18.1% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bismarck would need approximately $91,579 in Fort Collins to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bismarck has the same purchasing power as $91,579 in Fort Collins.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Collins equals $61,422 in Bismarck.
Living in Bismarck vs Fort Collins
Housing Costs
Bismarck's housing index of 90 is lower Fort Collins's 142, translating to median home prices of $348,000 vs $531,000. The $183,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,892 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Bismarck compared to $1,625/mo in Fort Collins, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Bismarck and 100 in Fort Collins. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Bismarck vs $475/month in Fort Collins. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 82 in Bismarck and 87 in Fort Collins. Monthly utility bills average approximately $328 in Bismarck vs $348 in Fort Collins. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Bismarck and 97 in Fort Collins. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $77,600 in Bismarck and $74,800 in Fort Collins. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $81,684 and $64,483 respectively. Bismarck residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,811/month to housing in Bismarck vs $1,745/month in Fort Collins. In Bismarck, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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