Is $26,000 a good salary in South Dakota?

$26,000 in South Dakota provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,913 after taxes. Across major South Dakota cities, this salary is rated manageable, with an average monthly surplus of $146.

What is the cost of living on $26,000 in South Dakota?

The average monthly living cost across major South Dakota cities is approximately $1,767 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $26,000 take-home pay of $1,913/month, you would have roughly $146/month remaining.

Living in South Dakota · 2026

Is $26,000 enough to live in South Dakota?

Single adult · SD · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$1,913

Avg monthly expenses

$1,767

Avg monthly surplus

$146

Savings potential

~8%

After-tax take-home in South Dakota

Gross salary$26,000

Federal income tax− $1,050

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $1,612

Medicare− $377

Annual take-home$22,961

Effective tax rate11.69%

How $26,000 feels in South Dakota cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Sioux Falls

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $-24/mo

Rent burden: 54.9% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Sioux Falls analysis →

Rapid City

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$405

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,880/mo

Surplus: $33/mo

Rent burden: 52.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Rapid City analysis →

Aberdeen

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$383

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,665/mo

Surplus: $248/mo

Rent burden: 44.4% — High (35–50%)

Full Aberdeen analysis →

Brookings

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$396

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,805/mo

Surplus: $108/mo

Rent burden: 49.6% — High (35–50%)

Full Brookings analysis →

Watertown

COL index: 0.82× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$880

Food

$378

Transport

$144

Utilities

$135

Healthcare

$164

Total: $1,701/mo

Surplus: $212/mo

Rent burden: 46.0% — High (35–50%)

Full Watertown analysis →

Mitchell

COL index: 0.79× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$820

Food

$370

Transport

$138

Utilities

$130

Healthcare

$158

Total: $1,616/mo

Surplus: $297/mo

Rent burden: 42.9% — High (35–50%)

Full Mitchell analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,913 ($22,956/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$957

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$574

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$383

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$11,478

Wants / year

$6,887

Savings / year

$4,591

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Sioux Falls

Rent alone would take 55% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $42,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.5/10 (Challenging)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $26,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $24, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Sioux Falls is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $26,000 here is roughly equivalent to $52,857 in San Francisco or $25,143 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$26,000 is 37% below the South Dakota individual median of $41,200. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$41,200

-37%

State household median

$70,877

-63%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$26,000 vs. South Dakota income benchmarks

Individual median (South Dakota)

$41,200

-37% vs. this salary

Household median (South Dakota)

$70,877

-63% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in South Dakota

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.