Cost of living index
Rapid City, SD
89.2 / 100
Living in Rapid City, SD is 10.8% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
89.2
Housing / rent
72.6
vs US average
−10.8%
What it costs to live in Rapid City, SD
Rapid City, SD has an overall price level of 89.2 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 10.8% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 72.6 it is 27.4% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Rapid City, SD an expensive place to live?
Rapid City, SD has an overall cost-of-living index of 89.2, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 10.8% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Rapid City, SD?
Housing in Rapid City, SD scores 72.6 against a US average of 100 — roughly 27.4% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Rapid City, SD compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Rapid City, SD sit at 89.2 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 72.6. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.