Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 18% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$533
+64% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$807
+52% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,156
+46% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,260
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$270,000
+69% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$65,712
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$46,270
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
39.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
36.3%
61.6%
+25.3 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
36.4%
+1.4 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
17.4 min
+13.7 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
718.9
+2% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.4
3,795.8
+153% 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
67.0°F
47.1°F
+19.9°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
16.3 in
+4.9 in in Los Angeles, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.85/gal
+30% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — LA Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
15.4
+56% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$15.26
+25% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Rapid City, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rapid City, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / SD)
7.25%
4.2%
+3.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Rapid City?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).