Living Cost Compare
Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/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 $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 32% higher in South Burlington, VT. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rapid City, SD
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$533
$1,557
+192% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$807
$1,533
+90% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,805
+56% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,260
$2,356
+87% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$270,000
$399,600
+48% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,712
$97,229
+48% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,270
$60,020
+30% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.0 yr
38.8 yr
+0.2 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
61.6%
60.1%
+1.5 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
65.1%
+28.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
17.4 min
18.9 min
+1.5 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
718.9
239.4
+67% in Rapid City, SD
Property Crime
3,795.8
4,446
+17% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+1.1°F in Rapid City, SD
Annual Precipitation
16.3 in
36.8 in
+20.5 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in South Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
24.4
+59% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$26.07
+71% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Rapid City, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / VT)
4.2%
6%
+1.8 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Rapid City vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or South Burlington?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or South Burlington?
Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).