What is the cost of living in Spearfish, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Spearfish has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Spearfish has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Spearfish ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Spearfish ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Spearfish, check out:
Spearfish Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Spearfish. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Spearfish is 101.
The Groceries index in Spearfish is 100.
The Health index in Spearfish is 113.
The Housing index in Spearfish is 98.
The Transportation index in Spearfish is 104.
The Utilities index in Spearfish is 94.
| Living Expense | Spearfish | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 113 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 93 | 100 |
Spearfish 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
Spearfish, 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 Spearfish is $456,936.
The Median Rent in Spearfish is $963.
The Median Income in Spearfish is $65,688.
The Home Value To Income in Spearfish is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Spearfish is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Spearfish | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $456,936 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $963 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,688 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Spearfish, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Spearfish Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Spearfish | 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 Spearfish Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Spearfish | 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 Spearfish Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Spearfish | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $154.12 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Spearfish Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Spearfish | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.65 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.31 | $59.92 |
Detailed Spearfish Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Spearfish | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $158.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.38 | $192.25 |
Spearfish SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Spearfish
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Spearfish. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Box Elder, SD has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Spearfish.
Sturgis, SD has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Spearfish.
Rapid Valley, SD has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Spearfish.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Spearfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Elder, SD | 12,902 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Sturgis, SD | 7,086 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Rapid Valley, SD | 6,975 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Belle Fourche, SD | 5,804 | 89 | 0.9x |
