Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bismarck, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bismarck, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,515 in Bismarck, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,438 in Bismarck, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,360 in Bismarck, ND.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 46% more expensive than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Bismarck, ND 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$42.84 $42.84

-40.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$74.5 $74.5

62.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$14.51 $14.51

-2.76%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.23 $5.23

11.28%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.38 $2.38

25.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.80 $1.80

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.03 $6.03

28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.86 $6.86

14.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.07 $1.07

25.23%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.69 $2.69

82.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.42 $4.42

16.29%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.25 $4.25

54.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.02 $12.02

104.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$14.44 $14.44

9.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.14 $15.14

33.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.93 $4.93

27.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.61 $1.61

77.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.35 $4.35

21.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.60 $4.60

38.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.86 $2.86

12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.80 $2.80

36.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.10 $2.10

30.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.20 $2.20

17.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.23 $8.23

41.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$20.09 $20.09

-21.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.90 $1.90

51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.37 $3.37

30.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.53 $3.53

-24.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.60 $1.60

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.34 $29.34

1.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.2K $29.2K

12.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$268 $268

$187 $187

43.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$69.0 $69.0

-11.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$92.5 $92.5

-17.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.25 $43.25

80.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.31 $13.31

18.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,252 $2,252

$1,317 $1,317

70.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

24.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$52.0 $52.0

36.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.23 $40.23

32.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$67.0 $67.0

75.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

22.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,218 $1,218

89.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,011 $1,011

82.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,608 $1,608

194.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,160 $1,160

206.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,078 $2,078

274.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,017 $2,017

165.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,878 $3,878

69.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

7.13

-9.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bismarck, ND: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,218 in Bismarck, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $75 in Bismarck, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $406 per month, with Bismarck, ND cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Bismarck, ND differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,515 including rent). Bismarck, ND is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 70% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,218 in Bismarck, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,317 in Bismarck, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bismarck, ND – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,515 in Bismarck, ND versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bismarck, ND but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Bismarck, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Bismarck, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bismarck, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.