Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 56% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$533
+69% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$807
+49% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,156
+39% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,260
+48% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$270,000
+47% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$65,712
+56% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$46,270
+15% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
39.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
61.6%
+12.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
36.4%
+35.3 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
17.4 min
+14.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
718.9
+739% in Rapid City, SD
Property Crime
892.2
3,795.8
+325% 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
49.9°F
47.1°F
+2.8°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
16.3 in
+20.6 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
15.4
+23% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$15.26
+23% in Naperville, IL

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 (IL / SD)
6.25%
4.2%
+2.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Naperville vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Rapid City?
Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).