Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Madison, WI versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 15% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Madison vs Rapid City — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Rapid City?
- Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Rapid City?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
- Which has lower taxes, Madison or Rapid City?
- Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).