Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Rapid City?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson 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 Jackson versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Rapid City?

Jackson 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).

Jackson vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 34% 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.

Jackson, MS

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$533

+51% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$807

+1% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,156

+17% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,260

+12% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$270,000

+150% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$65,712

+52% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$46,270

+8% in Rapid City, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

39.0 yr

+4.3 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

48.6%

61.6%

+13.0 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

36.4%

+7.8 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

20.2 min

17.4 min

+2.8 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

718.9

Property Crime

—

3,795.8

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

47.1°F

+18.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

16.3 in

+38.0 in in Jackson, 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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, 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

Jackson vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Rapid City?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson 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 Jackson versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Rapid City?: Jackson 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).