Fargo, ND vs Rapid City, SD: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Rapid City, SD is 1.9% less expensive than Fargo, ND (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fargo works out to about $73,600 in Rapid City, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.6% less in Rapid City. Goods are 0.2% lower and other services 0.6% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,457 a month in Rapid City and $1,103 in Fargo, $4,248 a year more in Rapid City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $370,000 in Rapid City and $328,000 in Fargo.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 10.6% lower in Rapid City than in Fargo
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | 89.2 |
| Goods | 95.7 | 95.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 81.1 | 72.6 |
| Utilities | 77.3 | 79.1 |
| Other services | 91.3 | 91.9 |
| Category | Fargo | Rapid City | Rapid City vs Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | 89.2 | −1.9% |
| Goods | 95.7 | 95.5 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 81.1 | 72.6 | −10.6% |
| Utilities | 77.3 | 79.1 | +2.3% |
| Other services | 91.3 | 91.9 | +0.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,103 | $1,457 | +32.1% |
| Typical home value | $328,000 | $370,000 | +12.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fargo | $75,000 | $73,600 | −1.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Fargo and Rapid City has narrowed since 2008: 7.0 points then, 1.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.3 | 90.3 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 90.4 |
| 2010 | 95.2 | 91.8 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 86.9 |
| 2012 | 95.9 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 95.3 | 93.3 |
| 2014 | 92.6 | 91.7 |
| 2015 | 94.5 | 89.7 |
| 2016 | 95.4 | 89.8 |
| 2017 | 93.9 | 89.3 |
| 2018 | 93.0 | 92.0 |
| 2019 | 95.0 | 92.4 |
| 2020 | 92.5 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 92.6 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 87.9 | 90.6 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 90.3 |
| 2024 | 90.9 | 89.2 |
Goods
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 93.2 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 95.8 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 96.8 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 96.8 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 98.3 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 97.7 | 96.7 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 95.1 |
| 2018 | 93.9 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 97.8 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 95.5 |
Housing (rents)
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.5 | 64.6 |
| 2009 | 78.1 | 63.8 |
| 2010 | 84.0 | 70.6 |
| 2011 | 87.7 | 53.4 |
| 2012 | 93.5 | 86.2 |
| 2013 | 85.9 | 79.9 |
| 2014 | 68.3 | 71.6 |
| 2015 | 87.5 | 67.1 |
| 2016 | 93.5 | 69.8 |
| 2017 | 88.7 | 69.3 |
| 2018 | 82.0 | 71.0 |
| 2019 | 87.5 | 72.1 |
| 2020 | 74.9 | 79.0 |
| 2021 | 78.8 | 76.5 |
| 2022 | 63.6 | 81.3 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 76.9 |
| 2024 | 81.1 | 72.6 |
Utilities
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.4 | 82.3 |
| 2009 | 81.3 | 82.2 |
| 2010 | 80.5 | 80.8 |
| 2011 | 82.5 | 82.2 |
| 2012 | 82.5 | 83.0 |
| 2013 | 82.0 | 83.3 |
| 2014 | 77.9 | 80.0 |
| 2015 | 78.1 | 80.3 |
| 2016 | 76.8 | 80.3 |
| 2017 | 82.0 | 84.1 |
| 2018 | 89.2 | 91.2 |
| 2019 | 88.7 | 89.2 |
| 2020 | 88.4 | 90.0 |
| 2021 | 90.9 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 83.0 | 89.7 |
| 2023 | 79.4 | 81.7 |
| 2024 | 77.3 | 79.1 |
Other services
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 98.4 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.1 |
| 2015 | 95.1 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 95.7 | 94.1 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 96.8 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 98.2 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 96.0 |
| 2022 | 92.2 | 91.6 |
| 2023 | 89.8 | 91.0 |
| 2024 | 91.3 | 91.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,457 in Rapid City vs $1,103 in Fargo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $815 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $796 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $785 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $813 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $808 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $801 | $932 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $801 | $931 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $809 | $925 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $818 | $955 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $811 | $965 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $798 | $940 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $816 | $952 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $826 | $969 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $828 | $972 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $833 | $960 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $832 | $981 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $843 | $994 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $851 | $1,010 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $842 | $1,004 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $864 | $1,067 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $880 | $1,088 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $878 | $1,140 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $899 | $1,174 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $909 | $1,255 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $932 | $1,333 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $940 | $1,342 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $949 | $1,295 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $961 | $1,291 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $973 | $1,314 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $995 | $1,329 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,014 | $1,331 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,021 | $1,329 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,030 | $1,370 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,041 | $1,373 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,060 | $1,367 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,038 | $1,367 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,058 | $1,382 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,065 | $1,400 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,067 | $1,396 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,080 | $1,404 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,092 | $1,429 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,103 | $1,457 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $370,000 in Rapid City vs $328,000 in Fargo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fargo, ND
- Rapid City, SD
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fargo, ND | Rapid City, SD | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $204K | $186K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $210K | $188K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $217K | $191K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $223K | $192K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $226K | $195K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $229K | $196K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $232K | $197K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $236K | $199K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $238K | $201K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $238K | $204K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $238K | $206K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $238K | $209K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $240K | $212K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $240K | $213K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $240K | $216K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $239K | $218K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $243K | $222K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $248K | $225K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $250K | $228K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $252K | $233K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $255K | $238K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $255K | $242K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $256K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $259K | $255K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $261K | $265K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $268K | $280K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $276K | $294K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $280K | $305K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $287K | $324K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $295K | $342K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $296K | $343K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $297K | $343K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $298K | $341K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $302K | $345K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $303K | $348K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $300K | $348K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $302K | $351K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $306K | $353K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $310K | $356K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $312K | $360K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $315K | $362K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $315K | $362K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $317K | $363K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $323K | $367K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $326K | $371K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $326K | $369K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $328K | $370K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.