City Comparison

Peoria vs Rapid City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

Rapid City

South Dakota
98
Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$70,900
Median Income

The Verdict

22.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.4%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to $96,711 in Rapid City.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
42
Peoria
91
Rapid City
Groceries
97
Peoria
102
Rapid City
Utilities
103
Peoria
87
Rapid City
Transportation
108
Peoria
102
Rapid City
Healthcare
107
Peoria
107
Rapid City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $96,711 in Rapid City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rapid City equals $58,163 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs Rapid City

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower Rapid City's 91, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $325,000. The $161,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,464 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $1,100/mo in Rapid City, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Peoria and 102 in Rapid City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Peoria vs $485/month in Rapid City. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Peoria and 87 in Rapid City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria vs $348 in Rapid City. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Peoria and 107 in Rapid City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $58,700 in Peoria and $70,900 in Rapid City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 and $72,347 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,654/month in Rapid City. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Rapid City, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 22.4% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,711 in Rapid City, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 42 with median homes at $164,000, while Rapid City's is 91 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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