Living Cost Compare
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 18% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$992
$533
+46% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,192
$807
+32% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,156
+26% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,761
$1,260
+28% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$345,600
$270,000
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$80,269
$65,712
+18% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,320
$46,270
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
39.0 yr
+6.0 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
48.0%
61.6%
+13.6 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.5%
36.4%
+18.1 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
22.5 min
17.4 min
+5.1 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,168.5
718.9
+38% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
5,183.1
3,795.8
+27% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.4°F
47.1°F
+0.3°F in Minneapolis, MN
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
16.3 in
+16.5 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.85/gal
+3% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.4
+12% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.79
$15.26
+3% in Rapid City, SD

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 (MN / SD)
6.875%
4.2%
+2.7 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
None
+9.8 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Rapid City?
Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).