Before you decide to relocate to South Dakota, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in South Dakota that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 18 places in South Dakota with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in South Dakota for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Dakota For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in South Dakota? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Spearfish is the most expensive place to live in South Dakota.
Madison (the cheapest place to live in South Dakota) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about South Dakota and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Dakota For 2026
/10
Population: 12,930
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $65,688
Average Home Price: $456,936
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x
More on Spearfish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Spearfish is 104. The median income in Spearfish comes in at $65,688 and the average home value is $456,936 for 2026.
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Population: 10,996
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $110,806
Average Home Price: $387,889
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Brandon is 102. The median income in Brandon comes in at $110,806 and the average home value is $387,889 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,786
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $120,139
Average Home Price: $381,055
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Tea: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Tea is 102. The median income in Tea comes in at $120,139 and the average home value is $381,055 for 2026.
/10
Population: 12,902
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $73,008
Average Home Price: $367,456
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Box Elder: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Box Elder is 100. The median income in Box Elder comes in at $73,008 and the average home value is $367,456 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,519
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $108,724
Average Home Price: $359,382
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Harrisburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Harrisburg is 100. The median income in Harrisburg comes in at $108,724 and the average home value is $359,382 for 2026.
/10
Population: 201,469
Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $75,970
Average Home Price: $329,722
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Sioux Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Sioux Falls is 99. The median income in Sioux Falls comes in at $75,970 and the average home value is $329,722 for 2026.
/10
Population: 77,946
Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $70,870
Average Home Price: $361,495
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.1x
More on Rapid City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Rapid City is 99. The median income in Rapid City comes in at $70,870 and the average home value is $361,495 for 2026.
/10
Population: 28,189
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $64,405
Average Home Price: $240,644
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Aberdeen: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Aberdeen is 98. The median income in Aberdeen comes in at $64,405 and the average home value is $240,644 for 2026.
/10
Population: 23,948
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $63,493
Average Home Price: $312,177
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Brookings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Brookings is 98. The median income in Brookings comes in at $63,493 and the average home value is $312,177 for 2026.
/10
Population: 13,948
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $77,672
Average Home Price: $293,979
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Pierre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Pierre is 98. The median income in Pierre comes in at $77,672 and the average home value is $293,979 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Mount Rushmore State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in South Dakota are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in South Dakota to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 18 places in South Dakota that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in South Dakota according to the data is Spearfish. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in South Dakota.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In South Dakota For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in South Dakota that have the highest cost of living, with Spearfish ranking as the most expensive city in the Mount Rushmore State.
The most expensive cities in South Dakota are Spearfish, Brandon, Tea, Box Elder, Harrisburg, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, and Pierre.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in South Dakota according to the data:
- Madison
- Huron
- Belle Fourche
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota
- Safest Places In South Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In South Dakota
Most Expensive Cities In South Dakota
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spearfish | 104 | 12,930 | $65,688 | $456,936 | 7.0x |
| 2 | Brandon | 102 | 10,996 | $110,806 | $387,889 | 3.5x |
| 3 | Tea | 102 | 6,786 | $120,139 | $381,055 | 3.2x |
| 4 | Box Elder | 100 | 12,902 | $73,008 | $367,456 | 5.0x |
| 5 | Harrisburg | 100 | 8,519 | $108,724 | $359,382 | 3.3x |
| 6 | Sioux Falls | 99 | 201,469 | $75,970 | $329,722 | 4.3x |
| 7 | Rapid City | 99 | 77,946 | $70,870 | $361,495 | 5.1x |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 98 | 28,189 | $64,405 | $240,644 | 3.7x |
| 9 | Brookings | 98 | 23,948 | $63,493 | $312,177 | 4.9x |
| 10 | Pierre | 98 | 13,948 | $77,672 | $293,979 | 3.8x |
| 11 | Watertown | 97 | 23,044 | $69,600 | $304,838 | 4.4x |
| 12 | Sturgis | 95 | 7,086 | $54,404 | $370,733 | 6.8x |
| 13 | Vermillion | 94 | 11,878 | $50,456 | $272,881 | 5.4x |
| 14 | Mitchell | 93 | 15,649 | $58,620 | $247,682 | 4.2x |
| 15 | Yankton | 91 | 15,540 | $67,804 | $270,786 | 4.0x |
| 16 | Belle Fourche | 89 | 5,804 | $65,071 | $334,319 | 5.1x |
| 17 | Huron | 87 | 14,385 | $61,452 | $171,871 | 2.8x |
| 18 | Madison | 86 | 6,094 | $65,593 | $263,104 | 4.0x |