Iowa City, IA vs Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bismarck, ND has a modeled overall cost index 6.7% lower than Iowa City, IA.

Iowa City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,200 / 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 Iowa City, IA 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

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Estimated savings: $380/month in Bismarck, ND

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,443 in Bismarck, ND

Regional cost estimates: Iowa City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Bismarck, ND uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$380
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.6K
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.

Iowa City, IA

Population:76K
Cost Index:
88.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$282K

Bismarck, ND

Population:75K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$288K

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Iowa City, IA

The Hawkeye State

76K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 76K 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: Iowa City, IA 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.

Other
↓ 14.2%
Iowa City, IA
$1,773
Bismarck, ND
$1,522
Difference
$251
less
Transportation
↓ 13.7%
Iowa City, IA
$1,372
Bismarck, ND
$1,184
Difference
$188
less
Housing
↑ 5.0%
Iowa City, IA
$2,065
Bismarck, ND
$2,167
Difference
$102
more
All Utilities
↓ 4.6%
Iowa City, IA
$522
Bismarck, ND
$498
Difference
$24.27
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.2%
Iowa City, IA
$757
Bismarck, ND
$741
Difference
$16.71
less
Groceries
↓ 0.2%
Iowa City, IA
$1,010
Bismarck, ND
$1,008
Difference
$2.01
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$925
To$945
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$1,015
To$1,015
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,155
↓ $45.00
3 Bed
From$1,670
To$1,610
↓ $60.00
Iowa City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$1,090/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 Iowa City, IA
$7,120
Monthly in Bismarck, ND
$380
Difference

Home Values

Iowa City
Bismarck
$282K
Median Value
$288K
↑ +4.5%
YoY Change
↑ +6.3%
↑ +27.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +30.5%
$270K - $311K
Price Range
$288K

Homes in Bismarck are 2% more expensive than Iowa City

Calculate payment - Iowa CityCalculate payment - Bismarck

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$660
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.3%
Rate difference

Iowa City, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

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

Iowa City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

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

Iowa City
Bismarck
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
66.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Iowa City, IA to Bismarck, ND

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bismarck, ND for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Iowa City, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Iowa City 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: Iowa City, IA vs Bismarck, ND

How do the cost estimates for Iowa City, IA and Bismarck, ND compare?

Bismarck, ND has a modeled overall cost index 6.7% lower than Iowa City, IA. 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 Iowa City, IA, the model estimates $145,443 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 Iowa City, IA and Bismarck, ND?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,200/month in Iowa City, IA 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 Iowa and North Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

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