Cost of living comparison

 South Dakota, USA
compared to
 Minnesota, USA
Minnesota vs. South Dakota Cost of Living Summary

Minnesota is 27.8% more expensive than South Dakota.

Restaurants
pay 6.5% more in Minnesota
Groceries
pay 2.6% more in Minnesota
Transportation
pay 39.4% more in Minnesota
Housing
pay 4.1% more in Minnesota
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more in Minnesota
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.7% more in Minnesota
Clothing
pay 5.8% less in Minnesota

The cost of childcare, transportation, entertainment and sports, restaurants, housing, and groceries in Minnesota are more expensive than in South Dakota. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Minnesota.

Minnesota vs. South Dakota Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Minnesota instead of South Dakota, you would:

pay 6.5% more for restaurants

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $14.00
 
$17.25
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.21
 
$10.44
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.08
 
$2.57
 

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pay 2.6% more for groceries

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Bread
1 loaf
$3.25
 
$3.24
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.20
 
$4.95
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.90
 
$3.64
 

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pay 39.4% more for transportation

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.32
 
$3.27
 
Monthly public transit pass $30.00
 
$75.17
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $34,159.27
 
$32,650.12
 

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pay 4.1% more for housing

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$59.17
 
$66.32
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,077.75
 
$1,195.42
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,002.25
 
$1,106.51
 

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pay 2.3 times more for childcare

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $725.00
 
$1,324.96
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $7,800.00
 
$22,140.67
 

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pay 14.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.12
 
$5.62
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.07
 
$5.50
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.04
 
$9.80
 

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pay 5.8% less for clothing

 
South Dakota
Minnesota
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.46
 
$52.74
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$55.00
 
$47.94
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$91.50
 
$84.66
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2025
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