Fort Pierre, SD vs Hot Springs, SD

Fort Pierre, SD and Hot Springs, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.8% difference in their overall index. Fort Pierre scores 72 while Hot Springs scores 71 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 Fort Pierre is $880/month compared to $854/month in Hot Springs — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hot Springs has cheaper rent, Fort Pierre actually has lower median home values ($166,700 vs $168,200).

Median household income in Fort Pierre is $74,732 compared to $49,688 in Hot Springs (+50.4%). While Fort Pierre is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Pierre spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.6% in Hot Springs.

Climate-wise, Fort Pierre is notably warmer with an average of 47°F compared to 43.2°F in Hot Springs. Fort Pierre receives more rainfall at 20.2" per year compared to 19.8" in Hot Springs.