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 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Rapid City has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Rapid City ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Rapid City ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Rapid City, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rapid City is 101.
The Groceries index in Rapid City is 96.
The Health index in Rapid City is 102.
The Housing index in Rapid City is 99.
The Transportation index in Rapid City is 104.
The Utilities index in Rapid City is 95.
| Living Expense | Rapid City | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 102 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 93 | 100 |
Rapid City 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Rapid City is $361,495.
The Median Rent in Rapid City is $1,109.
The Median Income in Rapid City is $70,870.
The Home Value To Income in Rapid City is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rapid City is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $361,495 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,109 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $70,870 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Rapid City, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Rapid City Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid City | 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 Rapid City Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid City | 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 Rapid City Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid City | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $154.12 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rapid City Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid City | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.65 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.31 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rapid City Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid City | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $158.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.38 | $192.25 |
