South Dakota
SDMidwest · 3 cities tracked · Updated 2026
South Dakota is cheaper than the national average. Across the 3 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 78 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,332 a month, 31% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.90
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,332
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
78
vs. 100 national avg
South Dakota Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest break is rent, at 31% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 3.8% over the past year across the 3 cities we track, faster than the 2.7% national change. Rapid City saw the biggest move (up 4.1%), while Pierre was up just 3.5%.
City to city
Where you live inside South Dakota matters. Typical rent runs from $1,265 in Sioux Falls to $1,457 in Rapid City, a gap of $192 a month or about $2,304 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 36% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 10th lowest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $75,347 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.90 a gallon, 2% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $136 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $1,780 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the Midwest rose 1.5% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in South Dakota
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 66 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Lincoln County | $96,552 |
| 2Hanson County | $86,375 |
| 3Union County | $84,137 |
| 4Hamlin County | $83,194 |
| 5Custer County | $81,958 |
| 6McCook County | $80,847 |
| 7Deuel County | $79,556 |
| 8Hughes County | $78,981 |
| 9Douglas County | $78,125 |
| 10Moody County | $77,500 |
| 11Edmunds County | $77,266 |
| 12Stanley County | $77,000 |
| 13Minnehaha County | $76,074 |
| 14Jerauld County | $75,417 |
| 15Turner County | $75,283 |
| 16Harding County | $74,766 |
| 17Hutchinson County | $74,459 |
| 18Hyde County | $74,279 |
| 19Meade County | $74,161 |
| 20Aurora County | $74,130 |
| 21Brule County | $74,043 |
| 22Yankton County | $73,855 |
| 23Grant County | $73,818 |
| 24Lake County | $73,792 |
| 25Spink County | $73,011 |
| 26Miner County | $72,589 |
| 27Marshall County | $72,500 |
| 28Hand County | $72,054 |
| 29Potter County | $71,726 |
| 30Pennington County | $70,768 |
| 31Sully County | $70,250 |
| 32Brown County | $70,239 |
| 33Kingsbury County | $70,221 |
| 34Sanborn County | $69,870 |
| 35Butte County | $67,692 |
| 36Brookings County | $67,341 |
| 37Lawrence County | $66,766 |
| 38Perkins County | $65,455 |
| 39Codington County | $65,080 |
| 40Campbell County | $65,000 |
| 41Charles Mix County | $64,850 |
| 42Jones County | $64,688 |
| 43Roberts County | $63,691 |
| 44Beadle County | $63,082 |
| 45Clark County | $62,885 |
| 46Walworth County | $62,722 |
| 47Day County | $62,270 |
| 48McPherson County | $62,024 |
| 49Davison County | $61,401 |
| 50Bon Homme County | $61,275 |
| 51Lyman County | $61,169 |
| 52Fall River County | $61,056 |
| 53Haakon County | $59,231 |
| 54Tripp County | $58,854 |
| 55Clay County | $58,794 |
| 56Faulk County | $58,000 |
| 57Dewey County | $57,928 |
| 58Gregory County | $52,432 |
| 59Mellette County | $51,364 |
| 60Ziebach County | $47,333 |
| 61Buffalo County | $47,000 |
| 62Bennett County | $44,569 |
| 63Corson County | $43,750 |
| 64Todd County | $39,148 |
| 65Oglala Lakota County | $34,769 |
| 66Jackson County | $26,686 |
South Dakota Cost of Living FAQ
Is South Dakota expensive to live in?
South Dakota is about 22% cheaper than the national average. Across the 3 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 78, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in South Dakota?
Typical rent in South Dakota averages $1,332 a month across the 3 cities we track as of September 2026, 31% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks the 13th lowest of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in South Dakota?
Of the 3 cities we track in South Dakota, Pierre has the lowest cost of living index at 70. The lowest typical rent is in Sioux Falls, at $1,265 a month.
What is the most expensive city in South Dakota?
Rapid City has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in South Dakota, at 87. The highest typical rent is in Rapid City, at $1,457 a month.
How much is gas in South Dakota?
Regular unleaded averages $3.90 a gallon in South Dakota as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 2% below the national average of $3.98. That is near the middle of 51 states.
Is rent going up in South Dakota?
Rent in South Dakota rose an average of 3.8% over the past year across the 3 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in South Dakota?
Residential electricity in South Dakota averages 15.2 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $136.
How much is car insurance in South Dakota?
Full coverage car insurance in South Dakota averages $1,780 a year, or about $148 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is the 16th lowest of 51 states.