What is the cost of living in Rapid Valley, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rapid Valley has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Rapid Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Rapid Valley ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Rapid Valley ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Rapid Valley, check out:
Rapid Valley Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rapid Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rapid Valley is 99.
The Groceries index in Rapid Valley is 96.
The Health index in Rapid Valley is 95.
The Housing index in Rapid Valley is 98.
The Transportation index in Rapid Valley is 102.
The Utilities index in Rapid Valley is 98.
| Living Expense | Rapid Valley | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 93 | 100 |
Rapid Valley 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 Valley, 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 Valley is $314,807.
The Median Rent in Rapid Valley is $1,174.
The Median Income in Rapid Valley is $83,208.
The Home Value To Income in Rapid Valley is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rapid Valley is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Rapid Valley | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $314,807 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,174 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $83,208 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Rapid Valley, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Rapid Valley Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid Valley | 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 Valley Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid Valley | 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 Valley Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid Valley | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $154.12 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rapid Valley Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid Valley | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.65 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.31 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rapid Valley Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Rapid Valley | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $158.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.38 | $192.25 |
Rapid Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rapid Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rapid Valley. 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, 1.1x Rapid Valley.
Box Elder, SD has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Rapid Valley.
Sturgis, SD has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Rapid Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rapid Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish, SD | 12,930 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Box Elder, SD | 12,902 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Sturgis, SD | 7,086 | 95 | 1.0x |
