CostIndexUSA

Bismarck, ND vs Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableND
Bismarck
91
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
OH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Bismarck is slightly cheaper than Cincinnati — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bismarck, you would need $83,900 in Cincinnati. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+4.3%
Bismarck
84
Cincinnati
87.6
🛒 Groceries2.0%
Bismarck
95.7
Cincinnati
93.8
🚗 Transportation+8.7%
Bismarck
95.7
Cincinnati
104
🏥 Healthcare+8.7%
Bismarck
86.6
Cincinnati
94.1
Utilities+21.3%
Bismarck
75
Cincinnati
91

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bismarck to see what you'd need to earn in Cincinnati to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Cincinnati, OH
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Cincinnati

Formula: salary × (95.4 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0484. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bismarck, ND

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.7×

Cincinnati, OH

Median Home Price
$296,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
87.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Cincinnati has 4.3% higher housing costs compared to Bismarck.

Income & Job Market

Bismarck, ND

Median Household Income
$83,400
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
73,529
Top Industries
GovernmentEnergyHealthcareFinanceAgriculture

Cincinnati, OH

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
309,317
Top Industries
FinanceManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bismarck, ND
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.