Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Worcester?

Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Worcester?

Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Rapid City vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Rapid City

South Dakota

$970/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Rapid City, SD is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,712 in Rapid City, SD and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 3% higher in Worcester, MA. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rapid City, SD

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$533

$1,087

+104% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$807

$1,028

+27% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,476

+28% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,260

$1,675

+33% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$270,000

$339,500

+26% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$65,712

$67,544

+3% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,270

$57,830

+25% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.0 yr

34.1 yr

+4.9 yr in Rapid City, SD

Homeownership

61.6%

42.4%

+19.2 pp in Rapid City, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.4%

34.1%

+2.3 pp in Rapid City, SD

Avg Commute

17.4 min

25.1 min

+7.7 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

718.9

640.2

+11% in Rapid City, SD

Property Crime

3,795.8

1,580.3

+58% 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

47.9°F

+0.8°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

16.3 in

48.1 in

+31.8 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.6

+93% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$30.66

+101% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Rapid City, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MA)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Rapid City vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rapid City or Worcester?: Rapid City, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rapid City than in Worcester?: 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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Rapid City or Worcester?: Rapid City is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).