What is the cost of living in Yankton, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Yankton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Yankton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Yankton ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Yankton ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Yankton, check out:
Yankton Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Yankton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Yankton is 98.
The Groceries index in Yankton is 96.
The Health index in Yankton is 76.
The Housing index in Yankton is 95.
The Transportation index in Yankton is 104.
The Utilities index in Yankton is 94.
| Living Expense | Yankton | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 93 | 100 |
Yankton 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
Yankton, 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 Yankton is $270,786.
The Median Rent in Yankton is $790.
The Median Income in Yankton is $67,804.
The Home Value To Income in Yankton is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Yankton is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Yankton | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $270,786 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $790 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,804 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Yankton, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Yankton Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Yankton | 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 Yankton Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Yankton | 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 Yankton Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Yankton | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.21 | $113.29 |
Detailed Yankton Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Yankton | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.42 | $59.92 |
Detailed Yankton Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Yankton | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.04 | $192.25 |
Yankton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Yankton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Yankton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tea, SD has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Yankton.
Wayne, NE has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Yankton.
