CostIndexUSA

Bismarck, ND vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostND
Bismarck
91
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
MI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Bismarck and Saginaw have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.3%
Bismarck
84
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries2.1%
Bismarck
95.7
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+9.2%
Bismarck
95.7
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+9.2%
Bismarck
86.6
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+27.7%
Bismarck
75
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$79,900
$100 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 91) = salary × 0.9989. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Bismarck has 24.3% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.