doxoINSIGHTS » South Dakota » Cost of Living in South Dakota: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025

Cost of Living in South Dakota: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025

What is the cost of living in South Dakota? doxo breaks down key insights about South Dakota’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state. 

According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in South Dakota pays $1,648 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.

The data sheds light on South Dakota’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month. 

By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.

South Dakota ranks as the 40th most expensive state in the US for household bills

According to doxo’s COBI report, South Dakota is ranked as the 40th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.

At $19,776 per year, South Dakota’s household expenses, on average, are 20% lower than the US median of $24,695. 

Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. South Dakota households spend 27% of their income on bills. 

COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for South Dakota is 80.

• Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,648 per month
• Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 80
• doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #40
• Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 27%
• Compared to the National Median: 20% lower

South Dakota Household Expenses are 20% Lower Than the National Median

The average South Dakota household pays $1,648 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills. 

On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in South Dakota is $74, compared to the national median of $74, making it the same as the national median.

Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for South Dakota residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,409, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 21% less expensive. 

Median South Dakota Household Bill Spending

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Virgil has the highest cost of living in South Dakota for household bills

Residents of Virgil pay the highest household bills in the state of South Dakota, at a median of $2,529 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Virgil is 122, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 22% higher than the national median.

In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Virgil make up 29% of the median annual household income of $103,500. 

Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.

5 Most Expensive South Dakota Cities for Household Bills

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Hayes has the lowest cost of living in South Dakota for household bills

Hayes is the most affordable place in South Dakota, with residents paying $847 on average for household bills, accounting for 20% of annual income of $49,643. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Hayes is 41, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 59% below the national median. 

Reva is the second most affordable city in South Dakota, with residents paying $849 per month on average.

Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in South Dakota are New Holland ($849), Fedora ($849) and Vivian ($849).

5 Most Affordable South Dakota Cities for Household Bills

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in South Dakota with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.