Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Bismarck, ND?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.7% of gross income.
Bismarck rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Bismarck, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bismarck
View full rent data for Bismarck, ND →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Bismarck, ND?
Median rent in Bismarck is $1,353 a month. A typical registered nurse in North Dakota earns about $91,646 a year, which makes that rent 17.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Bismarck?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in North Dakota (~$91,646/yr) supports up to $2,291 a month in rent. Bismarck's current median rent is $1,353/mo, which leaves a $938/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Bismarck?
At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a registered nurse in North Dakota works roughly 30.7 hours a month to cover Bismarck's median rent of $1,353.
Where is rent cheaper than Bismarck for a registered nurse?
Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include West Fargo ($1,350/mo), West Fargo ($1,336/mo), Watford City ($1,322/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.