City Comparison

Bismarck vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota
95
Below Average
$348,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$77,600
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

33.1%

Living in Bismarck costs 33.1% less than Yonkers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bismarck, you would need $112,105 in Yonkers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
90
Bismarck
203
Yonkers
Groceries
99
Bismarck
106
Yonkers
Utilities
82
Bismarck
117
Yonkers
Transportation
102
Bismarck
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
103
Bismarck
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bismarck has the same purchasing power as $112,105 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $50,176 in Bismarck.

Living in Bismarck vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Bismarck's housing index of 90 is lower Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $348,000 vs $635,000. The $287,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,660 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Bismarck compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $1,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Bismarck and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Bismarck vs $504/month in Yonkers. Bismarck offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 82 in Bismarck and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $328 in Bismarck vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Bismarck and 107 in Yonkers. 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 $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $81,684 and $56,761 respectively. Bismarck residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,811/month to housing in Bismarck vs $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Bismarck, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 113 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bismarck is 33.1% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 142.
A $75,000 salary in Bismarck has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,105 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Bismarck's housing index is 90 with median homes at $348,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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