Why is Rapid City so expensive?

The cost of living score is calculated based on accumulating the cost of food, transportation, health services, rent, utilities, taxes, and miscellaneous.

5%

Less than national average

11%

Higher than South Dakota average

2nd

Most expensive city in South Dakota

Affordability breakdown

2/10

The cost of food in Rapid City is more expensive than the United States average and earns a score of 2 out of 10. A cost of food score of 1 indicates most expensive while a 10 represents cheapest. The following are collected for use in calculating cost of food: meats, dairy products, produce, bakery products, miscellaneous grocery products, fast food, and average casual restaurant.

The data used to calculate the cost of food score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute’s Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed food price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.

6/10

The cost of transportation in Rapid City is more expensive than the United States average and earns a score of 6 out of 10. A cost of transportation score of 1 indicates most expensive while a 10 represents cheapest. The cost of transportation score uses local data on commuting patterns and city dispersion combined with fuel cost factors, public transportation, and efficiency patterns of public transportation in relationship to a transportation price level index. A relative cost of airline travel component is also included. In major cities, where parking is a substantial cost, estimates are included for parking expenses during regular business hours.

Transportation factors also include the yearly total cost of operating automobile(s) and/or equivalent commuter expense for ten miles.The cost of operating an automobile defaults to 20 miles round trip daily, maintenance, taxes and licensing fees, insurance, gasoline costs including taxes, etc.Costs vary according to changes to number of vehicles, combined value and combined prose, and annual mileage/kilometers.Sources include IRS allowed reimbursement policies, local gasoline, insurance, licensing and maintenance/service prices.

The data used to calculate the cost of transportation score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute’s Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed transportation price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.

6/10

The cost of housing in Rapid City is less expensive than the United States average and earns a score of 6 out of 10. A cost of housing score of 1 indicates most expensive while a 10 represents cheapest. The following are collected for use in determining the cost of housing score: square footage, monthly rent, home prices, and utilities.

For the estimated monthly rent prices, data on average and median rent price per square foot on a 900 square foot (2 bed room), unfurnished higher-quality apartment is collected.Estimated apartment rental prices assume a standard lease (usually 1-year) is signed.The same geographic assumptions and data standards used for home prices are applied to data collection and survey procedures.Utilities are estimated based on costs for common heating/cooling/sources of energy for the location. Water and sewer cost estimates are also included.

The data used to calculate the cost of housing score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute’s Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed housing price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.

9/10

The cost of housing in Rapid City is less expensive than the United States average and earns a score of 6 out of 10. A cost of housing score of 1 indicates most expensive while a 10 represents cheapest. The following are collected for use in determining the cost of housing score: square footage, monthly rent, home prices, and utilities.

For the estimated monthly rent prices, data on average and median rent price per square foot on a 900 square foot (2 bed room), unfurnished higher-quality apartment is collected.Estimated apartment rental prices assume a standard lease (usually 1-year) is signed.The same geographic assumptions and data standards used for home prices are applied to data collection and survey procedures.Utilities are estimated based on costs for common heating/cooling/sources of energy for the location. Water and sewer cost estimates are also included.

The data used to calculate the cost of housing score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute’s Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed housing price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.

About Rapid City

Rapid City (Lakota: Mni Lúzahaŋ Otȟúŋwahe; "Swift Water City") is the second most populous city in South Dakota and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed, it is in western South Dakota, on the Black Hills' eastern slope. The population was 74,703 as of the 2020 Census.Known as the "Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "City...

Read more from Wikipedia

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Cost of Living by State

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Cost of Living by City

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Brookings, SD

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Rapid City, SD

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Popular Job Salary Informationin Rapid City

Accountant

$72k

Registered Nurse

$75k

Human Resources Manager

$117k

Web Developer

$83k

Mechanical Engineer

$99k

Paralegal

$58k

Real Estate Agent

$58k

Electrician

$56k

Photographer

$53k

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Cost of Living Data for Other Cities in the United States

Lumberton, New Jersey

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Ravenna, Ohio

Ball Ground, Georgia

Inverness, Illinois

Mahopac, New York

La Grande, Oregon

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Employment Overview

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Employment Score

162

53,460

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3%

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43.3%

9/10

Rapid City is averaging an employment rate of 162 per month. Rapid City receives an employment score of 9 out of 10 Employment rate is calculated as the average change in the number of jobs added to the labor market per month over the span of the previous year.

Labor Force Count

The labor force is estimated by the number of employed people plus the unemployed who are looking for work. This number does not include the jobless who aren't looking for work.

9/10

The unemployment rate in Rapid City is 3%. Rapid City receives an overall unemployment score of 9 out of 10. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor force.

6/10

The upward mobility rate in Rapid City is 43%. Rapid City receives an overall upward score of 6 out of 10. Upward mobility is a measure of the average economic outcome of a child from a below-median income family compared to their parents. In areas with higher absolute upward mobility, children from low-income parents earn higher incomes as adults compared to their parents.

Crime Overview

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Crime Score

0.05% info

Yearly Crime Stats

Violent Crime:536

Property Crime:2,966

Total Crime:3,502

Total Population:74,573

2/10

The crime rate in Rapid City is 0.05%. Rapid City receives an overall crime score of 2 out of 10. Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population.

Violent Crime Overview

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Violent Crime Score

0.01% info

Yearly Violent Crime Stats

Murder:2

Robbery:80

Assault:366

Total Violent Crime:536

1/10

The violent crime rate in Rapid City is 0.01%. Rapid City receives an overall crime score of 1 out of 10. Violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported violent crimes (murder, robbery, and assault) by the total population.

Property Crime Overview

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Property Crime Score

0.04% info

Yearly Property Crime Stats

Burglary:480

Larceny:2,236

Vehicle Theft:250

Arson:2

Total Property Crime:2,966

2/10

The property crime rate in Rapid City is 0.04%. Rapid City receives an overall property crime score of 2 out of 10. Property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported property crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson) by the total population.

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About the Data

The information above is a sample of data available in ERI Economic Research Institute's Relocation Assessor. Cost of living data are derived from actual housing sales data and extensive research using authoritative online databases for consumables, fuel costs, tax rates, etc. To generate detailed cost of living reports suitable for creating cost comparisons for relocating employees customized to spending patterns, please consult ERI's Relocation Assessor. The Relocation Assessor includes cost of living differentials for 10,000 areas worldwide and allows for customization based on salary, housing, family size, consumption, services, and travel. Try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.

Is Rapid City expensive to live in?

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