What is the cost of living in Sturgis, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sturgis has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Sturgis has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Sturgis ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Sturgis ranks as the #12 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Sturgis, check out:
Sturgis Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sturgis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sturgis is 100.
The Groceries index in Sturgis is 97.
The Health index in Sturgis is 82.
The Housing index in Sturgis is 99.
The Transportation index in Sturgis is 104.
The Utilities index in Sturgis is 97.
| Living Expense | Sturgis | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 93 | 100 |
Sturgis 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
Sturgis, 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 Sturgis is $370,733.
The Median Rent in Sturgis is $780.
The Median Income in Sturgis is $54,404.
The Home Value To Income in Sturgis is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sturgis is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Sturgis | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $370,733 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $780 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,404 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Sturgis, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Sturgis Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Sturgis | 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 Sturgis Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Sturgis | 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 Sturgis Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Sturgis | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $154.12 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.45 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sturgis Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Sturgis | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.65 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.31 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sturgis Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Sturgis | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $158.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.38 | $192.25 |
Sturgis SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sturgis
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sturgis. 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 Sturgis.
Box Elder, SD has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Sturgis.
Rapid Valley, SD has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Sturgis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sturgis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish, SD | 12,930 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Box Elder, SD | 12,902 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Rapid Valley, SD | 6,975 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Belle Fourche, SD | 5,804 | 89 | 0.9x |
