Median rent is 6% lower in Sioux Falls ($993/mo vs $1,053/mo). Buying is cheaper in Rapid City, where the median home runs $270,000 versus $271,400. Households earn more in Sioux Falls ($74,714 vs $65,712 a year).
City A
Rapid City, SD
City B
Sioux Falls, SD
How much would you need to earn in Sioux Falls, SD to maintain your standard of living from Rapid City, SD?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Rapid City
South Dakota
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Sioux Falls at $993/mo compared to $1,053/mo in Rapid City (6% gap). Median home values are within 1% of each other: $270,000 in Rapid City and $271,400 in Sioux Falls.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Both South Dakota and South Dakota have no state income tax — a notable advantage for workers in both cities. Sales tax is 4.20% in South Dakota and 4.20% in South Dakota; Sioux Falls has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Rapid City
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 4.20%
Sioux Falls
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 4.20%
Air quality data is available for Sioux Falls (avg AQI 23.0) but not yet for Rapid City.
Pick Sioux Falls if you prioritize higher median household income ($74,714/yr).
Is Rapid City cheaper than Sioux Falls?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Rapid City vs Sioux Falls?
Median rent is $1,053/mo in Rapid City, SD and $993/mo in Sioux Falls, SD. Sioux Falls, SD has the lower rent by about 6%.
Which has higher salaries — Rapid City or Sioux Falls?
Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD. Sioux Falls, SD has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Rapid City or Sioux Falls?
Both South Dakota and South Dakota have no state income tax.
What salary do I need in Sioux Falls to match my Rapid City income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology