Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Rapid City?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Rapid City?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Gulfport, MS versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 30% higher in Rapid City, SD. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$958

$533

+44% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$849

$807

+5% in Gulfport, MS

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,156

+17% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,260

+8% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$270,000

+62% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$65,712

+43% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$46,270

+6% in Rapid City, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

39.0 yr

+2.3 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

53.1%

61.6%

+8.5 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

36.4%

+14.1 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

21.8 min

17.4 min

+4.4 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

718.9

+15% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

3,881.3

3,795.8

+2% in Gulfport, MS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.6°F

47.1°F

+20.5°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

16.3 in

+48.4 in in Gulfport, MS

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)

14.9

15.4

+3% in Rapid City, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$15.26

+47% in Gulfport, MS

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 Gulfport, MS

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 (MS / SD)

4.2%

+2.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Gulfport vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Rapid City?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Rapid City?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).