Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Rapid City?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Rapid City?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rapid City, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 40% higher in Rapid City, SD. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$678

$533

+21% in Cleveland, OH

1 Bedroom

$732

$807

+10% in Rapid City, SD

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,156

+28% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,260

+17% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$270,000

+187% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$65,712

+68% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$46,270

+8% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

39.0 yr

+2.7 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

41.2%

61.6%

+20.4 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

36.4%

+15.1 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

22.9 min

17.4 min

+5.5 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

718.9

+55% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

3,795.8

+16% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

47.1°F

+5.6°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

16.3 in

+20.1 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$3.85/gal

+1% in Rapid City, SD

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

15.4

+20% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$15.26

+33% in Cleveland, OH

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 (OH / SD)

5.75%

4.2%

+1.5 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Rapid City?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Rapid City?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).