Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Rapid City?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Rapid City?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/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 $890 in Laramie, WY versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rapid City, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 20% higher in Rapid City, SD. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$667

$533

+20% in Laramie, WY

1 Bedroom

$728

$807

+11% in Rapid City, SD

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,156

+31% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,260

+11% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$270,000

+11% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$65,712

+25% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,270

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

39.0 yr

+12.1 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

44.1%

61.6%

+17.5 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

36.4%

+19.4 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

17.4 min

+3.9 min in Rapid City, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

718.9

+455% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

1,175.9

3,795.8

+223% 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

41.0°F

47.1°F

+6.1°F in Rapid City, SD

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

16.3 in

+5.4 in in Rapid City, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

15.4

+1% in Rapid City, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$15.26

+17% in Laramie, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rapid City, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rapid City, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / SD)

4.2%

+0.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Laramie vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Rapid City?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Rapid City, SD's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Rapid City?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% 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).