Cost of living in South Dakota
Prices in South Dakota are 11.4% below the US average (46th highest of 51). South Dakota has no income tax on wages. State sales tax: 4.2%.
Price levels in South Dakota
| BEA RPP 2024 | South Dakota | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.6 | −11.4% |
| Goods | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 67.6 | −32.4% |
| Utilities | 79.7 | −20.3% |
| Other services | 91.9 | −8.1% |
Metros in South Dakota
Metros whose principal city is in South Dakota. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 314,638 | 90.6 | $1,228 | $178 | $1,596 |
| Rapid City, SD | 156,934 | 89.2 | $1,430 | $154 | $1,547 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in South Dakota: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD.
Taxes in South Dakota (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| South Dakota income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| South Dakota payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,530 | $5,133 | $7,771 | $8,765 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro).
Childcare prices across South Dakota
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $120 | $7,628 | $100 |
| Toddler (2) | $120 | $7,628 | $100 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $114 | $7,246 | $100 |
| School-age (5–12) | $115 | $7,323 | $109 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $120 a week in Ziebach County to $178 in Lincoln County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 66 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | $348,300 | $3,990 | 1.15% |
| Minnehaha County | $287,600 | $3,281 | 1.14% |
| Union County | $301,100 | $3,317 | 1.10% |
| Pennington County | $302,200 | $3,265 | 1.08% |
| McCook County | $230,100 | $2,444 | 1.06% |
| Meade County | $310,900 | $3,129 | 1.01% |
| Turner County | $222,900 | $2,181 | 0.98% |
| Custer County | $372,100 | $2,879 | 0.77% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from South Dakota
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 22,709 in, 29,476 out (net −6,767).
- Minnesota3,987 ±1,253
- Iowa2,375 ±1,201
- Nebraska2,275 ±950
- California1,983 ±862
- North Dakota1,850 ±1,046
- Texas994 ±556
- Nevada819 ±568
- Delaware753 ±854
- Nebraska4,055 ±2,381
- Minnesota2,736 ±776
- Texas2,425 ±2,090
- Iowa2,231 ±878
- Arizona1,674 ±870
- South Carolina1,653 ±1,655
- Wisconsin1,354 ±1,155
- North Dakota1,205 ±613
Frequently asked questions
Is South Dakota expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put South Dakota’s overall price level at 88.6 in 2024 (US = 100), the 46th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 67.6 and goods 95.5.
Does South Dakota have a state income tax?+
No — South Dakota does not tax wages.
What is the sales tax in South Dakota?+
The state rate is 4.2% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 4.2%. Local sales taxes can add to this. Under current law the state rate changes to 4.5% on 2027-07-01; our budgets use today’s rate.
What is the most affordable metro in South Dakota?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Sioux Falls, SD-MN leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,596), and Rapid City, SD the least ($1,547).