Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $970 in Rapid City, SD. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $65,712 in Rapid City, SD — about 8% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Rapid City, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$533
+68% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$807
+42% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,156
+24% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,260
+34% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$270,000
+24% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$65,712
+8% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$46,270
+15% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
39.0 yr
+17.0 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
50.3%
61.6%
+11.3 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
36.4%
+21.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
17.4 min
+2.2 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
718.9
+120% in Rapid City, SD
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,795.8
+87% 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
54.9°F
47.1°F
+7.8°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
16.3 in
+26.8 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.4
+20% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$15.26
+49% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / SD)
None
4.2%
+4.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Rapid City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Rapid City?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Rapid City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $32,000 in Rapid City.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Rapid City?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).