Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Rapid City?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Rapid City?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 10% higher in Rapid City, SD. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$709

$533

+25% in Fayetteville, AR

1 Bedroom

$817

$807

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,156

+16% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,260

+12% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$270,000

+16% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$65,712

+11% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$46,270

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

39.0 yr

+10.3 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

41.9%

61.6%

+19.7 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

36.4%

+13.4 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

17.4 min

+0.8 min in Fayetteville, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

718.9

+67% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

2,392.2

3,795.8

+59% 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

57.1°F

47.1°F

+10.0°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

16.3 in

+32.2 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Rapid City, SD

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.4

+9% in Rapid City, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$15.26

+45% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rapid City, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rapid City, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rapid City, SD

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rapid City, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / SD)

6.5%

4.2%

+2.3 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Rapid City?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Rapid City?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).