What is the cost of living in Box Elder, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Box Elder has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Box Elder has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Box Elder ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Box Elder ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Box Elder, check out:
Box Elder Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Box Elder. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Box Elder is 98.
The Groceries index in Box Elder is 100.
The Health index in Box Elder is 104.
The Housing index in Box Elder is 98.
The Transportation index in Box Elder is 102.
The Utilities index in Box Elder is 94.
| Living Expense | Box Elder | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 104 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 93 | 100 |
Box Elder Cost Of Living Compared To South Dakota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Dakota, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Dakota
- Most Affordable Cities In South Dakota
- Average Rent In South Dakota
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Box Elder, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Box Elder is $367,456.
The Median Rent in Box Elder is $1,491.
The Median Income in Box Elder is $73,008.
The Home Value To Income in Box Elder is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Box Elder is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Box Elder | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $367,456 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,491 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,008 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Box Elder, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Box Elder Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Box Elder | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.55 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.63 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $42.85 | $45.56 |
Detailed Box Elder Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Box Elder | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.37 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.71 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.42 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.6 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.34 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Box Elder Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Box Elder | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $154.12 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Box Elder Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Box Elder | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.65 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.31 | $59.92 |
Detailed Box Elder Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Box Elder | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $158.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.38 | $192.25 |
Box Elder SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Box Elder
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Box Elder. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Spearfish, SD has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Box Elder.
Sturgis, SD has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Box Elder.
Rapid Valley, SD has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Box Elder.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Box Elder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish, SD | 12,930 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Sturgis, SD | 7,086 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Rapid Valley, SD | 6,975 | 96 | 1.0x |
