Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Rochester?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Rochester?

Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Rapid City vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Rapid City, SD versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 25% higher in Rochester, MN. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Rapid City, SD

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$533

$1,080

+103% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$807

$1,106

+37% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,243

+8% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,260

$1,646

+31% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$270,000

$287,500

+6% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$65,712

$87,767

+34% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,270

$60,620

+31% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.0 yr

36.4 yr

+2.6 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

61.6%

65.4%

+3.8 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.4%

50.1%

+13.7 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

17.4 min

17.2 min

+0.2 min in Rapid City, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

718.9

158.9

+78% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

3,795.8

1,379

+64% 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

47.1°F

45.4°F

+1.7°F in Rapid City, SD

Annual Precipitation

16.3 in

33.0 in

+16.7 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.96/gal

+3% in Rochester, MN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

17.5

+14% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$14.79

+3% in Rapid City, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MN)

4.2%

6.875%

+2.7 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Rapid City vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Rochester?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Rochester?: Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).