Performance
Score Breakdown
Rapid City
Sioux Falls
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux Falls is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
6% higher compared to Rapid City.
| Metric | Rapid City | Sioux Falls | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,338 | $1,327 | +1% |
| Groceries | $340 | $400 | -15% |
| Utilities | $285 | $248 | +15% |
| Transport | $150 | $120 | +25% |
| Healthcare | $366 | $250 | +46% |
| Monthly Total | $2,479 | $2,345 | +6% |
| Cost Index | 99 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sioux Falls offers 23% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sioux Falls delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Rapid City is estimated at
$50,000 vs $61,000 in Sioux Falls.
| Metric | Rapid City | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $46,200 | $60,000 |
| Salary Needed | $50,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 46,667 idx | 68,182 idx |
| Household Income | $70,870 | $75,970 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Rapid City | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 59.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Sioux Falls scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Rapid City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rapid City | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 34.0/10 |
| Walkability | 40.0/10 | 38.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux Falls is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Rapid City.
From a growth perspective, Sioux Falls is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Rapid City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rapid City | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,067 | 224,676 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.83% | 2.30% |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 1.90% | 2.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Rapid City
Advantages
Rapid City experienced a significant population growth rate of 1.83% from 2024 to 2025, indicating a thriving community.
The unemployment rate in Rapid City is exceptionally low at 1.9% in 2026, well below the national average, suggesting a strong job market.
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital received an 'A' Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Spring 2025, highlighting high standards of patient safety.
The cost of living in Rapid City is slightly lower than the national average, with a cost of living index of 99, making it a relatively affordable place to reside.
Violent crime in Rapid City has seen a 26% decrease since 2020, reaching a five-year low in 2024, reflecting improved public safety efforts.
Drawbacks
Despite improvements, Rapid City's overall crime rate of 46 per one thousand residents is considered high compared to many communities nationwide.
Demand for housing has at times outpaced supply, contributing to rising costs and potential challenges for new residents.
Grocery prices in Rapid City are slightly higher than the national average, impacting everyday household expenses.
Some tourism-affiliated sectors in Rapid City offer lower-than-average wages, which can affect the overall earning potential for a segment of the workforce.
The city exhibits a medium car dependency, with limited public transit options and most residents relying on personal vehicles for commuting.
Sioux Falls
Advantages
Violent crime per capita reached a five-year low in 2025, and property crime decreased by 26% from 2024 to 2025.
The cost of living in Sioux Falls is approximately 12.5% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 24.1% cheaper.
Sioux Falls was ranked the third-least-stressed city in America for 2025.
The unemployment rate in Sioux Falls was 2.00% in June 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Sanford USD Medical Center was ranked the #1 hospital in South Dakota for 2024-2025 and recognized among the World's Best Hospitals.
Drawbacks
Despite overall crime decreases, the city's safety grade was D in 2024, with a violent crime rate of 526.7 per 100K residents.
The city has minimal public transportation options and a low walkability score of 38, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Healthcare costs are slightly higher than the national average, at 3.9% more.
While overall job growth is strong, the Sioux Falls area gained an average of only 50 jobs per month in 2025, which was the lowest since 2025 (excluding pandemic years).
Average home care costs are high, with in-home support listed at $8,389 per month in 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Rapid City
#21South Dakota, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$46,200
Cost Index
99
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
40.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.83%
Unemployment
1.90%
Livability
74
Business
68
Sioux Falls
#5South Dakota, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,327
Avg Salary
$60,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
34.0/10
Walkability
38.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.30%
Unemployment
2.00%
Livability
82
Business
80
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