Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Rapid City?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $32,000 in Rapid City.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Rapid City?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Rapid City under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Rapid City Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 22% higher in Rapid City, SD. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio

$877

$533

+39% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$807

+15% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,156

+8% in Rapid City, SD

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,260

+2% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$270,000

+72% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$65,712

+28% in Rapid City, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$46,270

+1% in Memphis, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

39.0 yr

+4.7 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

46.0%

61.6%

+15.6 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

36.4%

+8.2 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

21.3 min

17.4 min

+3.9 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

718.9

+71% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

3,795.8

+46% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

63.1°F

47.1°F

+16.0°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

16.3 in

+37.4 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.4

+9% in Rapid City, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.75

$15.26

+23% in Memphis, TN

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 Memphis, TN

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 (TN / SD)

4.2%

+2.8 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Memphis vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Rapid City?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Rapid City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Rapid City?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax 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).