Eau Claire, WI vs Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bismarck, ND has a modeled overall cost index 15.5% lower than Eau Claire, WI.

Eau Claire, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,205 / month
Bismarck, ND · modeled 2BR rent: $1,155 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Eau Claire, WI and Bismarck, ND using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Eau Claire, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,034/month in Bismarck, ND

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,593 in Bismarck, ND

Regional cost estimates: Eau Claire, WI uses Saint Paul, MN. Bismarck, ND uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 15.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,034

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Eau Claire, WI

Population:71K

Cost Index:

98.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$308K

Bismarck, ND

Population:75K

Cost Index:

82.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$288K

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Eau Claire, WI

The Badger State

71K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 71K residents.

Bismarck, ND

The Peace Garden State

75K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Dakota, this city has a population of 75K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Eau Claire, WI vs Bismarck, ND

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Eau Claire, WI	Bismarck, ND	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,306/mo	$1,968/mo	↓ $338less	14.7%
Other	$1,635/mo	$1,383/mo	↓ $252less	15.4%
Transportation	$1,308/mo	$1,075/mo	↓ $233less	17.8%
Groceries	$1,010/mo	$916/mo	↓ $94.43less	9.3%
Healthcare	$742/mo	$673/mo	↓ $69.35less	9.3%
All Utilities	$499/mo	$452/mo	↓ $46.62less	9.3%

Housing

↓ 14.7%

Eau Claire, WI

$2,306

Bismarck, ND

$1,968

Difference

$338

less

Other

↓ 15.4%

Eau Claire, WI

$1,635

Bismarck, ND

$1,383

Difference

$252

less

Transportation

↓ 17.8%

Eau Claire, WI

$1,308

Bismarck, ND

$1,075

Difference

$233

less

Groceries

↓ 9.3%

Eau Claire, WI

$1,010

Bismarck, ND

$916

Difference

$94.43

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.3%

Eau Claire, WI

$742

Bismarck, ND

$673

Difference

$69.35

less

All Utilities

↓ 9.3%

Eau Claire, WI

$499

Bismarck, ND

$452

Difference

$46.62

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$950

To$945

↓ $5.00

1 Bed

From$980

To$1,015

↑ $35.00

2 Bed

From$1,205

To$1,155

↓ $50.00

3 Bed

From$1,615

To$1,610

↓ $5.00

Eau Claire, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$980/mo

Bismarck, NDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,030/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Eau Claire, WI

$6,466

Monthly in Bismarck, ND

$1,034

Difference

Home Values

Eau Claire

Bismarck

$308K

Median Value

$288K

↑ +2.3%

YoY Change

↑ +6.3%

↑ +36%

5-Year Change

↑ +30.5%

$279K - $338K

Price Range

$288K

Homes in Bismarck are 7% less expensive than Eau Claire

Calculate payment - Eau Claire Calculate payment - Bismarck

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $6.1K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$506

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.0%

Rate difference

Eau Claire, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Bismarck, ND

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

North Dakota State Tax

Effective: 1.9%

$2.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 26.5%

$39.8K

Take-Home Pay

$9,184/month

$110.2K

Additional Tax Information

Eau Claire, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Bismarck, ND Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.8%

Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Eau Claire

Bismarck

36 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

66.4%

95 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

▲+3.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.6°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

14 days

Before moving from Eau Claire, WI to Bismarck, ND

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bismarck, ND for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Eau Claire, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Eau Claire to Bismarck moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bismarck, ND by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Eau Claire, WI vs Bismarck, ND

How do the cost estimates for Eau Claire, WI and Bismarck, ND compare?

Bismarck, ND has a modeled overall cost index 15.5% lower than Eau Claire, WI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Eau Claire, WI, the model estimates $137,593 in Bismarck, ND. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Eau Claire, WI and Bismarck, ND?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,205/month in Eau Claire, WI and $1,155/month in Bismarck, ND. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Wisconsin and North Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com