CostIndexUSA

Bismarck, ND vs Erie, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostND
Bismarck
91
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
PA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Bismarck and Erie have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing32.4%
Bismarck
84
Erie
56.8
🛒 Groceries+5.2%
Bismarck
95.7
Erie
100.7
🚗 Transportation+7.2%
Bismarck
95.7
Erie
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+7.2%
Bismarck
86.6
Erie
92.8
Utilities+42.4%
Bismarck
75
Erie
106.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Erie, PA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0000. 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×

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Bismarck has 32.4% lower housing costs compared to Erie.

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

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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)

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.