Relocation profile · Federal data
Rapid City, SD
BEA RPP 89.2 ranks #80 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 89.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,173
- 2BR rent / mo
- $61,147
- Median salary
- 49
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Rapid City ranks #230 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (49/100), with its strongest marks in schools and cost of living.
- #230
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 924,669
- metro-area population
- 320
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 698
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (9/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Rapid City ranks #230 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,173/mo, median salary $61,147; LiveAbility Score 49/100, strongest in schools and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 89.2 ranks #80 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,173/mo.
LiveAbility 49/100 keeps Rapid City in the middle third (#230 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Rapid City area is 68,240.
Rapid City vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
49 Top 59% higher than 41% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Rapid City housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Rapid City MSA; housing RPP 72.6 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,173/mo.
Rapid City wages and employment
Rapid City posts 68,240 total employment with median salary $61,147 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $33,350 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,440 |
| Registered Nurses | $79,380 |
| Cashiers | $30,460 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,810 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Rapid City area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Rapid City area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Rapid City's composite Life Score is 56.8/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Rapid City ranks #230 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 49/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Rapid City - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
83 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
80 /100
- Housing
Housing
69 /100
- Safety
Safety
48 /100
- Job market 26
Job market
26 /100
- Air quality 21
Air quality
21 /100
- Low hazard 20
Low hazard
20 /100
- Climate 9
Climate
9 /100
What this shows Rapid City's strongest dimensions are schools and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 9/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Rapid City to
Metros near Rapid City on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Rapid City on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Rapid City cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Rapid City wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Rapid City?
Rapid City runs a $61,147 median salary at a 89.2 cost index, ranking #230 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Rapid City's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Rapid City head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Rapid City
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.