Rapid City, SD Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Rapid City, SD Summary

Cost of living in Rapid City research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Rapid City is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in South Dakota, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Rapid City is 92, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Rapid City is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Rapid City ranks as the #11 cheapest in South Dakota out of 19.

  • Rapid City ranks as the #1,974 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Rapid City is $208,400.

  • The median income in Rapid City is $58,072.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
92
Rapid City's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Rapid City, SD?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rapid City has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Dakota, Rapid City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Dakota's index of 93.

The standard of living in Rapid City ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Rapid City ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.

For more reading on life in Rapid City, check out:

11 out of 19
In South Dakota
1,974 out of 6,412
In America

Rapid City Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rapid City. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Rapid City is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Rapid City is 100.

  • The Health index in Rapid City is 98.

  • The Housing index in Rapid City is 86.

  • The Transportation index in Rapid City is 90.

  • The Utilities index in Rapid City is 91.

Living Expense Rapid City South Dakota National Average
Overall 92 93 100
Services 93 93 100
Groceries 100 100 100
Health 98 95 100
Housing 86 90 100
Transportation 90 94 100
Utilities 91 89 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Dakota, check out:
Rapid City Cost of Living Vs. SD

Rapid City, SD Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Dakota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Rapid City is $208,400.

  • The Median Rent in Rapid City is $898.

  • The Median Income in Rapid City is $58,072.

  • The Home Value To Income in Rapid City is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Rapid City is 0.19x.

Statistic Rapid City South Dakota United States
Median Home Value $208,400 $187,800 $244,900
Median Rent $898 $809 $1,163
Median Income $58,072 $63,920 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.6x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.15x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Rapid City, SD
$208,400
Median Home Value
$898
Median Rent
$58,072
Median Income

Rapid City, SD Costs By Category

Detailed Rapid City Services Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Rapid City South Dakota
Shampoo $1.17 $1.06
Movie $9.0 $10.68
Bowling $12.0 $14.67
Haircut $15.74 $18.62
Beauty Salon $23.63 $39.05

Detailed Rapid City Groceries Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Rapid City South Dakota
Ground Beef $3.94 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.34 $1.39
Milk $2.02 $2.05
Potatoes $2.6 $3.29
Pizza $11.2 $10.62
Beer $9.52 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.17 $2.34

Detailed Rapid City Health Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Rapid City South Dakota
Optometrist $174.08 $108.57
Doctor $118.42 $116.17
Dentist $77.12 $99.13

Detailed Rapid City Transportation Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Rapid City South Dakota
Gasoline $2.1 $2.22
Tire Balancing $42.58 $50.07

Detailed Rapid City Utilities Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Rapid City South Dakota
All Electricity $134.29 $167.67
Phone $187.6 $175.64

Rapid City SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9

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