Cost of Living in Rapid City, SD
| Cost of Living in Rapid City, SD | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 2% lower | 14% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% lower | 13% lower |
| Food | 3% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 12% higher | 4% higher |
| Transportation | 8% higher | 1% higher |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 4% lower |
The cost of living in Rapid City, SD is 1% higher than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. Rapid City, SD housing is 14% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 13% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Rapid City, SD than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 4% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 4% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 4% cheaper in Rapid City, SD.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Rapid City is $1,308, while home prices circle around $425,172.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Rapid City, energy bills cost around $161.97 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $5.18 in Rapid City, a dozen eggs go for around $2.97 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.14.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Rapid City, an optometry check-up costs around $130.33, while a dentist appointment is priced $108.33 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.44 in Rapid City, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $58.67.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $39.23 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $32.98.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Rapid City, you should budget around $10.23 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $30.17, while dry cleaning costs about $18.10.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Rapid City, the median household income is $65,712.