What is the cost of living in Brookings, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brookings has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Brookings has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Brookings ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Brookings ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Brookings, check out:
Brookings Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brookings. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brookings is 99.
The Groceries index in Brookings is 93.
The Health index in Brookings is 95.
The Housing index in Brookings is 95.
The Transportation index in Brookings is 103.
The Utilities index in Brookings is 92.
| Living Expense | Brookings | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Brookings 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
Brookings, 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 Brookings is $312,177.
The Median Rent in Brookings is $889.
The Median Income in Brookings is $63,493.
The Home Value To Income in Brookings is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brookings is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Brookings | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $312,177 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $889 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,493 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Brookings, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Brookings Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Brookings | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.36 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.32 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Brookings Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Brookings | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.33 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Brookings Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Brookings | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.21 | $113.29 |
Detailed Brookings Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Brookings | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.42 | $59.92 |
Detailed Brookings Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Brookings | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.04 | $192.25 |
Brookings SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brookings
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brookings. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Watertown, SD has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Brookings.
Madison, SD has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Brookings.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown, SD | 23,044 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Madison, SD | 6,094 | 86 | 0.9x |
