What is the cost of living in Tea, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tea has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Tea has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Tea ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Tea ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Tea, check out:
Tea Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tea is 100.
The Groceries index in Tea is 93.
The Health index in Tea is 120.
The Housing index in Tea is 94.
The Transportation index in Tea is 106.
The Utilities index in Tea is 91.
| Living Expense | Tea | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 120 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 93 | 100 |
Tea 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
Tea, 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 Tea is $381,055.
The Median Rent in Tea is $1,220.
The Median Income in Tea is $120,139.
The Home Value To Income in Tea is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tea is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Tea | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $381,055 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,220 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $120,139 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.2x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Tea, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Tea Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Tea | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.36 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.32 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Tea Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Tea | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.33 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Tea Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Tea | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.21 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tea Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Tea | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.42 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tea Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Tea | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.04 | $192.25 |
Tea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tea. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sioux Falls, SD has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Tea.
Brandon, SD has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Tea.
Harrisburg, SD has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Tea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 201,469 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Brandon, SD | 10,996 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Harrisburg, SD | 8,519 | 100 | 1.0x |
