What is the cost of living in Pierre, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pierre has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Pierre has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Pierre ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Pierre ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Pierre, check out:
Pierre Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pierre. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pierre is 98.
The Groceries index in Pierre is 98.
The Health index in Pierre is 93.
The Housing index in Pierre is 97.
The Transportation index in Pierre is 103.
The Utilities index in Pierre is 97.
| Living Expense | Pierre | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 93 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 93 | 100 |
Pierre 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
Pierre, 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 Pierre is $293,979.
The Median Rent in Pierre is $983.
The Median Income in Pierre is $77,672.
The Home Value To Income in Pierre is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pierre is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Pierre | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $293,979 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $983 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,672 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Pierre, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Pierre Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Pierre | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $0.98 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $25.03 | $45.56 |
Detailed Pierre Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Pierre | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.61 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.28 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Pierre Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Pierre | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $179.59 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $83.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pierre Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Pierre | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.06 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pierre Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Pierre | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $159.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.14 | $192.25 |
