Canton, SD vs Salem, SD

Canton, SD and Salem, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Canton scores 68 while Salem scores 72 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Canton is $693/month compared to $880/month in Salem — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Canton has cheaper rent, Salem actually has lower median home values ($163,500 vs $191,000).

Median household income in Canton is $65,500 compared to $71,655 in Salem (-8.6%). While Salem is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Canton spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 14.7% in Salem.