Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/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 $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 8% higher in Rapid City, SD. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$798
$533
+33% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$807
+3% in Rapid City, SD
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,156
+17% in Rapid City, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,260
+15% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$270,000
+59% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$65,712
+9% in Rapid City, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$46,270
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
39.0 yr
+4.0 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
62.2%
61.6%
+0.6 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
36.4%
+7.9 pp in Rapid City, SD
Avg Commute
21.4 min
17.4 min
+4.0 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
718.9
+133% in Rapid City, SD
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,795.8
+69% 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
50.5°F
47.1°F
+3.4°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
16.3 in
+22.1 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.4
+12% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$15.26
+38% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / SD)
7%
4.2%
+2.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fort Wayne, IN's $980, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Rapid City?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).