doxoINSIGHTS » Cost of Living in South Dakota: Cities where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024

Cost of Living in South Dakota: Cities where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024

What is the cost of living in South Dakota? doxo breaks down key insights about South Dakota’s household expenses, with a close eye to how bills differ in towns and cities across the state. The average household in South Dakota, doxo’s data reveals, pays $1,854 in bills per month.

doxo’s data also has infographics for 11 cities and towns across South Dakota, breaking down localized bill pay data figures. The state-wide rankings for most and least expensive cities provide insight into cost of living in South Dakota and how it changes according to location.

The data sheds light on South Dakota’s cost of living through other metrics, too. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of household income local residents spend on bills. doxo’s data also indicates how much more or less expensive specific cities are than the national and state average.

South Dakota residents pay $1,854 in household bills a month

South Dakota residents, overall, get a good deal on their bills: the state ranks 42nd out of 50 states in terms of average monthly spending. Kansas ranks 41st, with annual monthly expenses of $1,864, and Missouri ranks 43rd, at $1,835.

South Dakota’s household expenses, on average, are 12.8% lower than the national average of $2,126.

Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. The “percentage of household income” metric provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. South Dakota households spend 32% of their income on household bills.

Annually, South Dakota residents pay $9 billion in household bills. See more data about bill pay in South Dakota by clicking on the infographic link below.

Data: doxoINSIGHTS’ bill pay infographic about South Dakota

• Average Bill Cost per HH: $1,854 per month
• State Bill Pay Market Size: $9 billion
• doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: 42 out of 50
• Percent of HHI Used for Bills: 32%
• Difference from the National Average: 12.8% lower

Housing bill category drives South Dakota’s low monthly bill expenses

The average South Dakota household pays $1,854 in the 10 most common household bills per month. Rent and mortgage expenses drive savings, with both being considerably lower than the national average. The average mortgage payment in South Dakota is $1,370, and average rent is $880, compared to the national average mortgage bill of $1,300 and rent bill of $496.

Other than housing-related expenses, auto loans are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for South Dakotans. The average auto loan bill in South Dakota is $526 a month, which is more than the national average of $496.

Compared to the national average, utilities are a lower expense for residents of South Dakota. The average household in the state pays $262 a month for utilities, compared to the national average of $362.

Auto insurance, by contrast, is more expensive in South Dakota. While US residents on average spend $209 per month on car insurance, in South Dakota they spend $250.

Note: Health Insurance and Life Insurance expenses do not account for payments made by employers on behalf of employees. These just include out-of-pocket expenses. Also, the state and national bill totals take into account the percentage of households that pay a bill.

Average South Dakota Household Bill Spending

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

Residents of Sioux Falls pay the highest household bills in the state of South Dakota, at an average of $2,027 per month. Yankton comes second in the rankings, with residents paying $2,009 on average per month.

In proportion to household income, the monthly bill basket makes up 33% of average household income in Sioux Falls and 36% in Yankton.

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 averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

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

Out of 11 cities and towns, Rapid City is the most affordable place in South Dakota, with residents paying $1,686 on average for household bills. Household bills account for 30% of local income in Rapid City.

Huron comes in at the second most affordable town or city in South Dakota, with residents paying $1,765 per month on average.

Also on the list of 10 least expensive cities in South Dakota are Vermillion ($1,793 per month), Aberdeen ($1,801 per month), and Watertown ($1,831 per month).

5 Most Affordable South Dakota Cities for Household Bills

Some individuals may be deciding whether to move from a more expensive city to a less expensive one, and doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource for consumers seeking to make key decisions like this, allowing them to compare South Dakota’s household expenses against average bills in different cities and states across the country. They can also use doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to compare average costs for nearly 5,000 towns and cities across the country.