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South Dakota cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: South Dakota has a cost-of-living index of 94.1 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $47,050, median household income of $76,881, combined average sales tax about 6.40%, and regular gas about $3.868/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index94.1100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$47,050
Median HH income$76,881
Sales tax (comb.)6.40%
Gas (87 octane)$3.868/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest citySioux Falls (206,410)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: None

Sales tax: 4% state (combined avg. ~6.40%)

Major industries: Agriculture (cattle, corn), tourism (Mount Rushmore/Badlands), finance, manufacturing

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~85°F (July) · Winter low ~7°F (January)

Culture (context)

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 94.1 in South Dakota. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 94.1% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: South Dakota vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for South Dakota's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare South Dakota with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is South Dakota's cost of living index?

South Dakota's cost-of-living index is 94.1 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in South Dakota?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $47,050 for South Dakota.

What is median household income in South Dakota?

Median household income in South Dakota is $76,881 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in South Dakota?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for South Dakota is 6.40%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does South Dakota have a state income tax?

State income tax in South Dakota: None.

What was regular gas in South Dakota in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.868 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read South Dakota's cost-of-living index?

The index is 94.1 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 94.1% of that salary to buy the same basket in South Dakota in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.