Best places to live in South Dakota
CityLedger tracks 2 South Dakota metros, led by Sioux Falls. Cost of living runs from about 89 to 91 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 2 metros in South Dakota, the largest being the Sioux Falls, SD-MN Metro Area (around 308,711 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $78,056 in Rapid City to $82,509 in Sioux Falls, and typical rent from $1,094 a month in Sioux Falls upward — a reminder that "South Dakota" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Rapid City has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 89 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Sioux Falls delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $91,038.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: South Dakota has no state income tax, a real boost to take-home pay versus most states, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.1% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and South Dakota state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Sioux Falls earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 77/100; Sioux Falls is the fastest-growing, up 14.8% over the latest population estimate; Sioux Falls carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $11 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 77 | 91 | $82,509 | $1,094/mo |
| Rapid City, SD | 65 | 89 | $78,056 | $1,168/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in South Dakota — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in South Dakota?
- By overall price level, Rapid City is the most affordable metro in South Dakota, at about 89 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in South Dakota?
- Sioux Falls has the highest cost-adjusted income in South Dakota — a median of about $91,038 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does South Dakota have a state income tax?
- No. South Dakota has no state income tax, which raises take-home pay versus most states, though combined state and local sales tax still averages about 6.1%.
- Which South Dakota metro has the highest livability score?
- Sioux Falls, at 77/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.