Vermillion, SD Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Vermillion, SD Summary

Cost of living in Vermillion research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Vermillion is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in South Dakota, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Vermillion is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Vermillion is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Vermillion ranks as the #4 cheapest in South Dakota out of 19.

  • Vermillion ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Vermillion is $269,697.

  • The median income in Vermillion is $52,815.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Vermillion's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Vermillion, SD?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Vermillion has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Dakota, Vermillion has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than South Dakota's index of 88.

The standard of living in Vermillion ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Vermillion ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.

For more reading on life in Vermillion, check out:

4 out of 19
In South Dakota
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Vermillion Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Vermillion. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Vermillion is 89.

  • The Groceries index in Vermillion is 96.

  • The Health index in Vermillion is 103.

  • The Housing index in Vermillion is 85.

  • The Transportation index in Vermillion is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Vermillion is 83.

Living Expense Vermillion South Dakota National Average
Overall 89 88 100
Services 89 95 100
Groceries 96 98 100
Health 103 100 100
Housing 85 78 100
Transportation 93 95 100
Utilities 83 89 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Dakota, check out:
Vermillion Cost of Living Vs. SD

Vermillion, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Vermillion is $269,697.

  • The Median Rent in Vermillion is $728.

  • The Median Income in Vermillion is $52,815.

  • The Home Value To Income in Vermillion is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Vermillion is 0.17x.

Statistic Vermillion South Dakota United States
Median Home Value $269,697 $315,406 $303,400
Median Rent $728 $912 $1,348
Median Income $52,815 $72,421 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.1x 4.4x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.15x 0.21x
$269,697
Median Home Value
$728
Median Rent
$52,815
Median Income

Vermillion, SD Costs By Category

Detailed Vermillion Services Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Vermillion 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 Vermillion Groceries Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Vermillion 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 Vermillion Health Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Vermillion South Dakota
Optometrist $135.1 $125.68
Doctor $177.33 $135.78
Dentist $108.21 $113.29

Detailed Vermillion Transportation Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Vermillion South Dakota
Gasoline $3.28 $3.46
Tire Balancing $49.42 $59.92

Detailed Vermillion Utilities Costs Vs. South Dakota

Item Vermillion South Dakota
All Electricity $141.67 $193.99
Phone $194.04 $192.25

Vermillion SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
6
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
6
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Vermillion

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Vermillion. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Le Mars, IA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Vermillion.

  • Sioux Center, IA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Vermillion.

  • Harrisburg, SD has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Vermillion.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Vermillion
Le Mars, IA 10,597 91 1.0x
Sioux Center, IA 8,335 97 1.1x
Harrisburg, SD 7,790 100 1.1x
Tea, SD 6,339 98 1.1x
Wayne, NE 6,055 91 1.0x

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