Living Cost Compare
Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/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 $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 10% higher in St. Paul, 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$533
$995
+87% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$807
$1,126
+40% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,384
+20% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,260
$1,662
+32% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$270,000
$280,300
+4% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$65,712
$73,055
+11% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,270
$59,320
+28% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.0 yr
33.5 yr
+5.5 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
61.6%
53.2%
+8.4 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
43.5%
+7.1 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
17.4 min
22.3 min
+4.9 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
718.9
619
+14% in Rapid City, SD
Property Crime
3,795.8
2,897.2
+24% 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
47.1°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
16.3 in
28.5 in
+12.2 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.96/gal
+3% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
17.5
+14% in St. Paul, 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
$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 (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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or St. Paul?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or St. Paul?
Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).