City Comparison

Rapid City vs Stockholm

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Rapid City

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

Stockholm

Sweden
97
Average
$445,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$50,000
Median Income

The Verdict

1.0%

Stockholm is 1.0% less expensive than Rapid City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Rapid City would need approximately $74,235 in Stockholm to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
91
Rapid City
118
Stockholm
Groceries
102
Rapid City
92
Stockholm
Utilities
87
Rapid City
88
Stockholm
Transportation
102
Rapid City
108
Stockholm
Healthcare
107
Rapid City
82
Stockholm

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Rapid City has the same purchasing power as $74,235 in Stockholm.

Conversely, $75,000 in Stockholm equals $75,773 in Rapid City.

Living in Rapid City vs Stockholm

Housing Costs

Rapid City's housing index of 91 is lower Stockholm's 118, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $445,000. The $120,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,800 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Rapid City compared to $1,500/mo in Stockholm, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Rapid City and 92 in Stockholm. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Rapid City vs $437/month in Stockholm. Stockholm offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 87 in Rapid City and 88 in Stockholm. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Rapid City vs $352 in Stockholm. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Rapid City and 82 in Stockholm. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $70,900 in Rapid City and $50,000 in Stockholm. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $72,347 and $51,546 respectively. Rapid City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,654/month to housing in Rapid City vs $1,167/month in Stockholm. In Rapid City, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Stockholm, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stockholm is 1.0% more affordable overall with an index of 97 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Rapid City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,235 in Stockholm, based on the cost of living difference.
Rapid City's housing index is 91 with median homes at $325,000, while Stockholm's is 118 with median homes at $445,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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