Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rapid City?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rapid City?

Fort Smith 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).

Fort Smith vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/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 $780 in Fort Smith, AR versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rapid City, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 20% 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.

Fort Smith, AR

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$634

$533

+16% in Fort Smith, AR

1 Bedroom

$603

$807

+34% in Rapid City, SD

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,156

+34% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,260

+16% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$270,000

+61% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$65,712

+25% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$46,270

+17% in Rapid City, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

39.0 yr

+2.4 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

53.0%

61.6%

+8.6 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

36.4%

+11.1 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

17.3 min

17.4 min

+0.1 min in Rapid City, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

718.9

+15% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

3,795.8

+3% 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

61.7°F

47.1°F

+14.6°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

16.3 in

+29.2 in in Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, 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

Fort Smith vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rapid City?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rapid City?: Fort Smith 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).