Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 21% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$998
$533
+47% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$807
+38% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,156
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,260
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$270,000
+36% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$65,712
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$46,270
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
39.0 yr
+3.4 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
61.3%
61.6%
+0.3 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
36.4%
+5.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
17.4 min
+5.4 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
718.9
+0% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
3,795.8
+9% 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
49.0°F
47.1°F
+1.9°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
16.3 in
+0.3 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.85/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.4
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$15.26
+1% in Rapid City, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Rapid City, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rapid City, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / SD)
2.9%
4.2%
+1.3 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
None
+4.4 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Rapid City?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).