Living Cost Compare
Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 16% higher in Rapid City, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Rapid City, SD
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$533
$1,103
+107% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$807
$1,024
+27% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,213
+5% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,260
$1,394
+11% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$270,000
$224,500
+17% in Rapid City, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$65,712
$55,269
+16% in Rapid City, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,270
$54,310
+17% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.0 yr
37.0 yr
+2.0 yr in Rapid City, SD
Homeownership
61.6%
46.0%
+15.6 pp in Rapid City, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
33.1%
+3.3 pp in Rapid City, SD
Avg Commute
17.4 min
23.0 min
+5.6 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
718.9
1,138.2
+58% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,795.8
3,182.4
+16% 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
54.9°F
+7.8°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
16.3 in
43.1 in
+26.8 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
19.3
+26% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$29.73
+95% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Rapid City, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Wilmington, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Rapid City, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Rapid City, SD
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Rapid City, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

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

Rapid City vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Wilmington?
Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Rapid City versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Wilmington?
Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).