Fairfax, SD vs Waubay, SD

Fairfax, SD and Waubay, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.7% difference in their overall index. Fairfax scores 61 while Waubay scores 58 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 Fairfax is $788/month compared to $583/month in Waubay — a 35% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waubay has cheaper rent, Fairfax actually has lower median home values ($62,000 vs $105,000).

Median household income in Fairfax is $66,875 compared to $36,635 in Waubay (+82.5%). While Fairfax is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfax spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waubay.