Cost of Living in South Dakota

351 cities | Population: 711,806

Average Cost of Living Index (US = 100)

Median Income: $64,652

Cost of Living in South Dakota: Overview

South Dakota has a cost of living index of 74, making it 26% less expensive than the national average. The statewide median household income is $64,652 (14% below the US median of $75,149). Across 351 cities tracked in South Dakota, costs vary widely depending on location, proximity to metro areas, and local housing markets.

Housing drives most of the variation. The average median rent across South Dakota cities is $756/mo (43% below the national median of $1,319), and the average median home value is $146,565 (52% below the national figure of $304,900). There is a 26-point spread between the most affordable city, Mitchell (index 69), and the most expensive, Harrisburg (index 96) — a moderate range typical of states with a mix of urban and rural areas.

When evaluating South Dakota, it helps to look beyond the state average. Individual city costs can deviate significantly — use the map and rankings below to compare specific locations.

The largest cities in South Dakota by population are Sioux Falls (index 84, pop. 197,642), Rapid City (index 86, pop. 76,836), Aberdeen (index 72, pop. 28,297), Brookings (index 78, pop. 23,710), and Watertown (index 76, pop. 22,859). Cost of living varies considerably even among these major population centers, highlighting the importance of comparing individual cities rather than relying on the state average alone.

Data: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow, HUD, BEA Regional Price Parities. Updated monthly.

Cost of Living Map

Top 79 cities by population. Click a marker for details.

Most Expensive in South Dakota

1. Harrisburg (7,790) 96 2. Box Elder (12,457) 95 3. Tea (6,339) 90 4. Rapid Valley (7,153) 88 5. Brandon (10,996) 88 6. Rapid City (76,836) 86 7. Spearfish (12,551) 85 8. Sioux Falls (197,642) 84 9. Pierre (14,008) 78 10. Brookings (23,710) 78

Cheapest in South Dakota

1. Mitchell (15,637) 69 2. Huron (14,347) 70 3. Vermillion (11,800) 71 4. Yankton (15,501) 72 5. Aberdeen (28,297) 72 6. Madison (6,158) 74 7. Sturgis (7,111) 76 8. Belle Fourche (5,741) 76 9. Watertown (22,859) 76 10. Brookings (23,710) 78

Best Places to Live in South Dakota (2026)

Our data-driven guide ranking the top 15 cities by affordability, income, housing, and climate.

All Cities in South Dakota (351)

City	Population	Cost Index	Median Income	Median Rent	Home Value
Sioux Falls	197,642	84	$74,714	$993/mo	$271,400
Rapid City	76,836	86	$65,712	$1,053/mo	$270,000
Aberdeen	28,297	72	$63,715	$783/mo	$205,500
Brookings	23,710	78	$61,979	$862/mo	$243,600
Watertown	22,859	76	$62,721	$904/mo	$212,300
Mitchell	15,637	69	$56,374	$754/mo	$182,000
Yankton	15,501	72	$69,071	$780/mo	$202,300
Huron	14,347	70	$51,556	$839/mo	$164,700
Pierre	14,008	78	$74,053	$936/mo	$219,500
Spearfish	12,551	85	$59,731	$941/mo	$309,200
Box Elder	12,457	95	$73,698	$1,354/mo	$271,800
Vermillion	11,800	71	$52,815	$728/mo	$210,200
Brandon	10,996	88	$104,806	$989/mo	$317,300
Harrisburg	7,790	96	$101,534	$1,349/mo	$281,400
Rapid Valley	7,153	88	$85,217	$1,263/mo	$226,300
Sturgis	7,111	76	$51,101	$815/mo	$236,400
Tea	6,339	90	$104,643	$1,113/mo	$305,300
Madison	6,158	74	$62,180	$874/mo	$191,400
Belle Fourche	5,741	76	$59,920	$947/mo	$188,800
Dakota Dunes	4,129	108	$123,438	$1,211/mo	$495,000
Dell Rapids	3,947	83	$101,250	$919/mo	$284,400
Milbank	3,513	59	$58,462	$480/mo	$161,300
Hot Springs	3,506	71	$49,688	$854/mo	$168,200
Hartford	3,412	78	$95,426	$937/mo	$223,400
Canton	3,060	68	$65,500	$693/mo	$191,000
North Sioux City	3,018	83	$76,481	$1,092/mo	$234,500
Lead	2,997	73	$57,348	$844/mo	$192,800
Summerset	2,978	97	$115,197	$1,233/mo	$337,900
Mobridge	2,928	71	$61,556	$977/mo	$122,000
Winner	2,900	67	$47,132	$821/mo	$124,000
Blackhawk	2,805	86	$69,934	$1,148/mo	$243,700
Chamberlain	2,621	68	$75,000	$682/mo	$195,300
Sisseton	2,593	59	$44,477	$600/mo	$111,900
Lennox	2,587	77	$76,477	$925/mo	$210,800
Fort Pierre	2,534	72	$74,732	$880/mo	$166,700
Pine Ridge	2,480	54	$50,954	$618/mo	$45,000
Beresford	2,437	76	$71,017	$868/mo	$219,800
Elk Point	2,391	74	$83,250	$801/mo	$228,400
Colonial Pine Hills	2,347	100	$82,262	—	$348,400
Flandreau	2,291	63	$56,458	$689/mo	$130,800
Volga	2,246	81	$75,417	$1,048/mo	$220,200
Redfield	2,230	61	$60,586	$668/mo	$117,000
North Spearfish	2,201	90	$69,792	$1,074/mo	$321,800
Custer	2,148	79	$80,188	$926/mo	$229,500
Springfield	2,073	66	$59,063	$802/mo	$126,800
Parkston	1,981	65	$71,313	$725/mo	$145,500
Webster	1,823	60	$55,074	$612/mo	$122,200
Groton	1,794	75	$82,083	$954/mo	$173,000
Rosebud	1,710	54	$55,066	$588/mo	$57,000
Oglala	1,601	50	$43,274	$500/mo	$42,200
Freeman	1,558	68	$60,114	$741/mo	$171,300
Wagner	1,555	64	$47,137	$711/mo	$129,200
Baltic	1,512	85	$105,132	$1,116/mo	$240,200
Green Valley	1,503	91	$78,801	—	$232,100
Eagle Butte	1,492	55	$53,558	$628/mo	$51,500
North Eagle Butte	1,432	57	$38,125	$740/mo	$37,500
Aurora	1,407	75	$90,612	$829/mo	$219,100
Mission	1,380	55	$34,000	$631/mo	$56,900
Miller	1,346	59	$51,774	$546/mo	$135,100
Gettysburg	1,344	70	$59,667	$939/mo	$127,000
Clear Lake	1,333	64	$65,398	$679/mo	$144,400
Gregory	1,330	63	$47,629	$746/mo	$105,600
Deadwood	1,319	72	$52,679	$706/mo	$227,000
Platte	1,310	71	$71,641	$860/mo	$165,700
Parker	1,247	77	$87,632	$923/mo	$208,000
Crooks	1,216	87	$104,479	$1,113/mo	$270,500
Lemmon	1,214	57	$42,461	$631/mo	$79,700
Tyndall	1,206	64	$51,719	$805/mo	$94,200
Salem	1,201	72	$71,655	$880/mo	$163,500
Clark	1,181	64	$49,464	$738/mo	$125,700
Garretson	1,166	69	$66,375	$704/mo	$197,400
Ashland Heights	1,142	88	$61,538	—	$202,700
Fort Thompson	1,134	56	$45,313	$515/mo	$110,300
Ipswich	1,126	71	$79,135	$850/mo	$165,600
Britton	1,117	64	$70,156	$760/mo	$110,100
Worthing	1,087	81	$91,250	$1,053/mo	$214,000
Martin	1,054	59	$49,609	$667/mo	$87,300
Colman	1,011	72	$73,000	$728/mo	$227,600
Marion	1,004	70	$72,969	$811/mo	$167,400
Howard	990	55	$54,792	$516/mo	$93,200
Alcester	987	61	$58,661	$690/mo	$114,400
De Smet	974	67	$60,139	$743/mo	$155,900
Elkton	971	72	$58,750	$850/mo	$183,800
Valley Springs	967	77	$97,031	$1,025/mo	$178,900
Piedmont	956	91	$52,730	$1,176/mo	$290,100
Eureka	946	54	$34,167	$557/mo	$69,800
Lake Andes	934	58	$45,714	$743/mo	$46,700
Agency Village	911	70	$47,569	$731/mo	$204,200
Mina	888	103	$102,969	$1,159/mo	$448,600
Lake Madison	885	90	$116,648	$595/mo	$496,600
Meadow View Addition	880	90	$92,470	—	$227,700
Centerville	876	64	$58,438	$730/mo	$123,600
Viborg	874	62	$52,794	$635/mo	$140,000
Estelline	862	61	$74,231	$611/mo	$139,000
Edgemont	845	52	$42,440	$460/mo	$81,100
Arlington	833	67	$67,083	$836/mo	$122,400
Colton	802	69	$82,639	$739/mo	$186,000
Scotland	800	58	$61,406	$573/mo	$110,000
Wonderland Homes	782	92	$88,500	—	$250,700
Lower Brule	777	46	$31,667	$415/mo	$22,500
Lake Norden	769	77	$71,923	$956/mo	$201,400
Bryant	761	64	$60,592	$692/mo	$136,700
Castlewood	756	77	$87,768	$1,028/mo	$178,600
Woonsocket	753	58	$52,283	$618/mo	$94,200
Wessington Springs	747	53	$46,750	$461/mo	$96,000
Whitewood	746	77	$67,250	$925/mo	$214,200
Menno	736	52	$61,250	$380/mo	$103,200
Alexandria	725	67	$92,500	$714/mo	$168,300
Manderson-White Horse Creek	723	73	$22,596	$544/mo	—
Jefferson	717	85	$81,149	—	$177,900
Highmore	717	72	$99,500	$1,042/mo	$111,500
White River	712	69	$80,625	$1,067/mo	$59,800
Hill City	699	80	$85,714	$933/mo	$246,700
Blucksberg Mountain	683	100	$95,658	—	$347,200
Timber Lake	677	56	$58,000	$567/mo	$83,600
Humboldt	674	70	$97,292	$713/mo	$209,200
Avon	673	57	$57,727	$603/mo	$83,600
Johnson Siding	671	107	$100,972	—	$432,800
Wolsey	666	60	$56,833	$713/mo	$88,000
Canistota	664	81	$61,979	—	$112,200
Onida	658	76	$71,050	$945/mo	$187,000
Corsica	654	67	$65,893	$814/mo	$126,800
Shindler	651	118	$142,875	—	$567,300
Armour	647	65	$64,250	$867/mo	$93,300
Burke	645	59	$45,192	$548/mo	$127,900
Selby	642	56	$40,882	$532/mo	$104,800
Plankinton	637	68	$76,250	$900/mo	$110,500
Parmelee	637	74	$30,859	$568/mo	—
Murdo	633	58	$66,250	$531/mo	$120,700
St. Francis	631	74	$45,417	$572/mo	—
Faulkton	627	66	$68,672	$860/mo	$100,000
Antelope	610	49	$19,176	$483/mo	$37,100
Big Stone City	609	63	$50,333	$705/mo	$122,500
Wall	595	59	$72,784	$514/mo	$149,600
McLaughlin	567	63	$66,607	$883/mo	$60,200
Tripp	563	47	$57,727	$341/mo	$68,000
Herreid	549	60	$68,611	$703/mo	$87,400
Porcupine	549	97	$20,256	—	—
Lake Preston	539	59	$60,917	$533/mo	$139,100
New Underwood	538	73	$54,167	$862/mo	$188,700
Irene	521	62	$59,091	$781/mo	$87,100
Montrose	514	64	$86,000	$498/mo	$216,700
Oacoma	505	71	$70,250	$847/mo	$165,800
Prairiewood Village	496	108	$118,681	—	$443,500
Warner	494	84	$114,375	$1,094/mo	$231,600
Newell	494	73	$52,277	$1,031/mo	$120,100
Philip	491	62	$43,750	$739/mo	$102,800
Boulder Canyon	487	113	$71,846	—	$510,400
Wounded Knee	484	97	$2,499	—	—
Dupree	483	59	$48,036	$705/mo	$69,400
West Brule	482	69	$34,167	$425/mo	—
Emery	475	61	$62,679	$619/mo	$125,000
Kimball	469	65	$60,208	$768/mo	$118,800
Bridgewater	456	60	$38,500	$719/mo	$86,900
Willow Lake	455	68	$63,929	$810/mo	$150,000
Oahe Acres	443	93	$76,375	—	$267,500
Bowdle	442	60	$55,875	$693/mo	$95,600
Wilmot	441	57	$61,563	$642/mo	$68,600
White	438	64	$63,125	$675/mo	$141,700
Mount Vernon	437	56	$58,542	$382/mo	$163,100
Rosholt	430	67	$62,375	$867/mo	$115,800
Veblen	428	55	$52,917	$653/mo	$40,800
Kadoka	427	75	$36,786	$600/mo	—
Ramona	427	59	$76,042	$663/mo	$92,900
Waubay	425	58	$36,635	$583/mo	$105,000
Iroquois	425	66	$60,750	$763/mo	$138,500
White Lake	423	56	$48,906	$655/mo	$59,300
Bison	419	66	$62,273	$943/mo	$72,300
Lake Poinsett	413	108	$101,136	—	$446,600
Mountain Plains	412	121	$166,641	—	$606,100
Anderson	406	102	$143,705	—	$372,300
Hudson	405	81	$70,000	—	$113,500
Keystone	404	68	$62,159	$690/mo	$188,800
Langford	402	58	$74,063	$592/mo	$105,800
Colome	397	59	$44,167	$723/mo	$67,500
Hurley	397	61	$76,429	$675/mo	$110,800
Hayti	393	65	$78,333	$776/mo	$116,400
Summit	389	62	$57,500	$775/mo	$84,000
Gayville	378	56	$85,000	$533/mo	$98,800
Kennebec	367	83	$71,667	—	$145,100
Chancellor	365	63	$64,750	$650/mo	$137,500
Leola	363	62	$76,458	$839/mo	$66,500
Little Eagle	362	64	$23,750	$244/mo	—
Wakonda	352	64	$56,875	$817/mo	$97,700
Alpena	349	62	$65,417	$867/mo	$46,100
Tabor	346	73	$78,438	$1,023/mo	$122,700
Trent	345	62	$65,000	$680/mo	$122,100
Hoven	341	79	$61,250	—	$88,800
Spring Creek	337	97	$40,278	—	—
Presho	333	69	$60,227	$825/mo	$153,000
Faith	327	53	$39,583	$384/mo	$124,400
Bonesteel	301	54	$40,750	$580/mo	$65,000
Hermosa	296	79	$53,194	$1,259/mo	$108,800
Roscoe	294	78	$42,500	—	$74,400
Enemy Swim	291	97	$29,125	—	—
Florence	289	55	$69,531	$388/mo	$137,500
Bullhead	285	74	$32,614	$575/mo	—
Bruce	283	60	$52,500	$667/mo	$95,000
Buffalo	282	58	$81,607	$583/mo	$112,500
Crook City	278	110	$143,426	—	$462,200
Pukwana	276	71	$61,750	$994/mo	$119,600
Pollock	274	60	$67,019	$721/mo	$80,900
Toronto	272	52	$53,750	$438/mo	$90,000
La Plant	266	71	$18,629	$467/mo	—
Ethan	263	66	$54,688	$777/mo	$134,400
Marty	257	72	$19,740	$506/mo	—
Pickstown	254	77	$94,375	$775/mo	$271,400
Stickney	251	61	$58,333	$695/mo	$99,400
Renner Corner	249	123	$93,967	—	$625,000
Hosmer	249	76	$65,179	—	$52,700
Henry	246	79	$27,254	—	$85,100
Bristol	245	59	$51,250	$738/mo	$61,700
Pine Lakes Addition	243	118	$192,813	—	$567,000
Monroe	239	56	$37,031	$697/mo	$46,500
Doland	237	56	$62,604	$673/mo	$52,600
New Effington	236	52	$48,558	$525/mo	$56,700
Egan	235	56	$60,278	$583/mo	$79,400
South Shore	232	60	$56,667	$700/mo	$82,800
White Horse	230	84	$39,063	—	$156,500
Gary	227	52	$49,375	$479/mo	$72,500
Sinai	220	79	$52,188	—	$91,500
Chester	215	75	$67,417	$1,098/mo	$128,400
Blunt	214	71	$62,031	$888/mo	$152,500
Yale	211	82	$73,080	—	$125,400
Brant Lake South	210	97	$105,000	—	—
Tulare	206	60	$59,375	$725/mo	$77,700
Pringle	198	72	$43,929	—	$9,999
Reliance	196	79	$53,594	—	$90,000
Delmont	196	79	$43,542	—	$91,300
Wessington	192	56	$65,250	$538/mo	$95,000
Wentworth	189	80	$91,875	$775/mo	—
Cavour	187	79	$86,500	—	$86,100
Oelrichs	187	78	$72,212	—	$75,000
Letcher	184	62	$67,500	$755/mo	$88,000
Mission Hill	182	68	$71,250	$900/mo	$111,500
Isabel	182	58	$70,625	$756/mo	$49,300
Frederick	178	60	$81,071	$719/mo	$83,100
Roslyn	174	55	$44,375	$558/mo	$77,100
Kranzburg	174	82	$60,625	—	$123,300
Ashton	171	75	$63,125	—	$40,700
Columbia	170	82	$59,038	—	$121,900
Richland	168	88	$53,295	—	$206,800
Nisland	167	67	$29,444	$950/mo	$75,500
Long Hollow	165	97	$2,499	—	—
Pierpont	165	68	$85,000	$1,031/mo	$58,100
Badger	164	77	$68,571	—	$72,000
Artesian	160	61	$57,656	$725/mo	$87,000
Astoria	160	66	$46,667	$850/mo	$103,400
Wakpala	159	70	$22,500	$433/mo	—
Cherry Creek	158	73	$42,788	$828/mo	$205,000
Northville	154	84	$118,750	—	$150,000
St. Lawrence	145	78	$42,813	—	$83,800
Mellette	144	84	$104,375	—	$151,400
Fairfax	143	61	$66,875	$788/mo	$62,000
Frankfort	142	76	$61,875	—	$54,600
Geddes	141	78	$61,250	—	$81,800
Canova	140	74	$58,000	—	$35,000
Buffalo Gap	140	77	$55,268	—	$67,500
Rowena	137	97	$148,036	—	$305,900
Volin	135	80	$110,060	—	$108,900
Hazel	132	86	$104,375	—	$175,000
Dante	130	83	$110,417	—	$141,700
Whitehorse	127	75	$63,214	$603/mo	—
Spencer	126	56	$57,917	$425/mo	$137,500
Peever	126	52	$41,875	$566/mo	$37,500
Kenel	124	52	$49,688	$444/mo	$83,800
Conde	122	76	$70,156	—	$53,300
Central City	122	87	$45,208	—	$187,500
Fruitdale	121	87	$15,833	$1,375/mo	$162,800
Glenham	119	78	$56,250	—	$76,900
Bath	116	97	$33,031	—	—
Angostura	114	97	$135,893	—	—
Stockholm	112	80	$81,250	—	$98,800
Belvidere	112	97	$50,833	—	—
Cresbard	110	97	$45,625	—	—
Midland	108	76	$60,417	—	$53,700
Davis	108	80	$63,125	—	$102,100
Peever Flats	107	73	$28,571	$529/mo	—
Dimock	104	87	$103,750	—	$193,800
Bradley	104	80	$60,833	—	$105,800
Carthage	104	66	$58,750	$850/mo	$102,100
Claire City	102	78	$57,000	—	$73,100
Dallas	102	78	$62,813	—	$77,100
Naples	100	97	$108,750	—	—
Brandt	100	78	$58,036	$720/mo	—
Java	99	76	$46,250	—	$57,500
Oldham	98	48	$29,643	$388/mo	$62,000
Mound City	97	74	$43,750	—	$27,900
Hitchcock	96	62	$65,625	$865/mo	$53,000
Fairview	95	82	$69,464	—	$129,200
Lyons	94	97	$134,688	—	—
Goodwin	94	62	$54,750	$519/mo	$175,000
Westport	93	80	$58,750	—	$103,900
Revillo	92	97	$53,621	—	—
Lesterville	92	78	$76,250	—	$76,000
Vale	90	76	$23,661	—	$58,900
Claremont	90	78	$56,667	—	$74,000
Fulton	89	58	$54,844	$458/mo	$150,000
La Bolt	85	76	$73,750	—	$57,500
Harrold	83	57	$51,250	$546/mo	$104,200
Morningside	79	90	$118,750	—	$230,000
Strandburg	79	79	$55,625	—	$88,800
Akaska	79	79	$41,705	—	$91,700
Wasta	77	81	$45,000	—	$111,500
Quinn	76	80	$95,795	—	$104,200
Bridger	72	97	$14,583	—	—
Corona	72	97	$78,611	—	—
Grenville	70	75	$83,125	—	$43,100
Lebanon	68	97	$48,750	—	—
Brant Lake	68	106	$123,750	—	$422,200
Wallace	67	56	$53,750	$575/mo	$85,600
Tolstoy	67	97	$86,875	—	—
New Witten	66	97	$37,900	—	—
Bushnell	66	79	$91,250	—	$87,500
Farmer	64	97	$60,893	—	—
Ortley	62	75	$38,750	—	$41,000
Morristown	58	73	$37,917	—	$22,500
Fairburn	57	78	$21,875	—	$80,800
Chelsea	57	97	$158,542	—	—
Lake City	56	86	$43,750	—	$175,000
Sherman	55	73	$46,875	$1,125/mo	$91,000
Wood	55	97	$34,375	—	—
Ward	54	84	$87,788	—	$155,800
Olivet	54	97	$59,583	—	—
Utica	54	76	$49,167	—	$56,000
Herrick	54	97	$45,500	—	—
Orient	54	75	$41,389	—	$38,800
Ravinia	53	77	$29,167	—	$63,300
Raymond	51	97	$47,500	—	—
Erwin	50	75	$53,750	—	$45,000
Stratford	50	77	$73,750	—	$69,200
Vienna	44	77	$34,583	—	$67,500
Turton	43	97	$46,875	—	—
Dolton	42	84	$62,321	—	$154,800
Forestburg	40	97	$62,500	—	—
Vivian	39	97	$58,000	—	—
Twin Brooks	35	78	$63,125	—	$75,000
Camp Crook	35	77	$39,375	—	$66,100
Bancroft	34	97	$133,750	—	—
Ree Heights	34	73	$71,771	—	$18,300
Clear Lake	30	97	$22,679	—	—
Seneca	26	74	$40,750	—	$28,500
Lane	25	97	$95,833	—	—
Waverly	21	78	$29,196	—	$83,200
Draper	20	97	$68,750	—	—
Marvin	18	97	$38,750	—	—
Long Lake	17	74	$58,438	—	$28,800
Broadland	15	76	$84,750	—	$56,400
Virgil	15	97	$45,000	—	—
White Rock	13	72	$36,250	—	$9,999
Hetland	10	77	$45,625	—	$65,000