Living Cost Compare
Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 30% higher in Rapid City, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rapid City, SD
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$533
$760
+43% in Springfield, MO
1 Bedroom
$807
$772
+4% in Rapid City, SD
2 Bedroom
$1,156
$926
+20% in Rapid City, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,260
$1,158
+8% in Rapid City, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$270,000
$165,200
+39% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$65,712
$45,984
+30% in Rapid City, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,270
$45,780
+1% in Rapid City, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.0 yr
33.6 yr
+5.4 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
61.6%
42.9%
+18.7 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
30.3%
+6.1 pp in Rapid City, SD
Avg Commute
17.4 min
18.0 min
+0.6 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
718.9
1,189.8
+66% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,795.8
4,231.6
+11% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+9.2°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
16.3 in
45.6 in
+29.3 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
16.2
+6% in Springfield, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$28.78
+89% in Springfield, MO

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 / MO)
4.2%
4.225%
+0.0 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.70%
+4.7 pp in MO

Rapid City vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Springfield?
They're close. Rapid City, SD runs about $970 a month and Springfield, MO about $970 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Springfield?
Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).