Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Rapid City?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Rapid City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Rapid City?

Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Bellevue vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Bellevue, NE versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 25% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$1,106

$533

+52% in Bellevue, NE

1 Bedroom

$1,008

$807

+20% in Bellevue, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,190

$1,156

+3% in Bellevue, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,660

$1,260

+24% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,800

$270,000

+17% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$87,343

$65,712

+25% in Bellevue, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$46,270

+7% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

39.0 yr

+2.9 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

65.5%

61.6%

+3.9 pp in Bellevue, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

36.4%

+3.0 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

20.8 min

17.4 min

+3.4 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

100.8

718.9

+613% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

1,149.4

3,795.8

+230% in Rapid City, SD

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.1°F

47.1°F

+4.0°F in Bellevue, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

16.3 in

+14.3 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

15.4

+16% in Rapid City, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$15.26

+24% in Bellevue, NE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / SD)

5.5%

4.2%

+1.3 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

None

+4.5 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Rapid City?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Rapid City?: Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).