Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 21% higher in Rapid City, SD. 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.

Milwaukee, WI
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$841
$533
+37% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$849
$807
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,156
+12% in Rapid City, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,260
+6% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$270,000
+57% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$65,712
+27% in Rapid City, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$46,270
+10% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
39.0 yr
+6.8 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
41.5%
61.6%
+20.1 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
36.4%
+9.8 pp in Rapid City, SD
Avg Commute
22.4 min
17.4 min
+5.0 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
718.9
+50% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
3,795.8
+37% 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
47.9°F
47.1°F
+0.8°F in Milwaukee, WI
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
16.3 in
+18.5 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.6
15.4
+21% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.17
$15.26
+16% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / SD)
5%
4.2%
+0.8 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
None
+7.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Rapid City?
Milwaukee 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).