Fort Pierre, SD vs Howard, SD

The cost of living difference between Fort Pierre, SD and Howard, SD is dramatic. Howard is 31.1% cheaper than Fort Pierre, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Pierre has a cost index of 72 while Howard sits at 55, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Pierre is $880/month compared to $516/month in Howard — a 71% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Howard is more affordable at $93,200 median vs $166,700.

Median household income in Fort Pierre is $74,732 compared to $54,792 in Howard (+36.4%). 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, more than the 11.3% in Howard.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (47°F vs 47.7°F). Howard receives more rainfall at 21.1" per year compared to 20.2" in Fort Pierre.