A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Mitchell South Dakota National
Cost of living8889100
Goods & Services9194100
Groceries9797100
Health care10398100
Housing7877100
Transportation9197100
Utilities8488100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mitchell, SD

The cost of living in Mitchell affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Mitchell is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Mitchell Affordable?

Is Mitchell an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Mitchell, the median home price is 20.2% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 24.7% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Mitchell come in at $45,318, which is 18.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mitchell?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Mitchell, the utilities index stands at 16.2% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Mitchell, healthcare costs are 3.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Mitchell cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Mitchell is 1% lower than the South Dakota average
  • The cost of living in Mitchell is 12% lower than the national average
  • Mitchell housing is 22% lower than the national average
  • South Dakota general sales tax is 12% lower than the national average
  • South Dakota state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Mitchell

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Compare Mitchell, SD Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$60,338$5,028$1,408$1,810
      Renters$30,172$2,514$704$905
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Mitchell, SD, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Mitchell homeowners, is $60,338. This would allow for a maximum of $1,408 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $30,172 which would result in a maximum of $704 to be spent on rental costs.

      South Dakota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      South Dakota 4.5% 6%

      South Dakota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      South Dakota 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.32$24.260.2%
      Beauty Salon $35.22$45.5622.7%
      Toothpaste $3.80$3.702.7%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.280.7%
      Movie $9.36$12.1322.9%
      Bowling $16.40$18.008.9%

      Groceries

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.7%
      Potatoes $4.63$4.936.2%
      Pizza $10.64$12.0912.0%
      Beer $9.33$10.4110.4%

      Health Care

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $135.10$125.687.5%
      Doctor $177.33$135.7830.6%
      Dentist $108.21$113.294.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.48$10.651.7%
      Lipitor $357.08$468.6023.8%

      Housing

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      Home Price $147,400.00$184,700.0020.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,133.89$2,346.699.1%
      Apartment Rent $715.00$949.0024.7%

      Transportation

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.28$3.465.3%
      Tire Balancing $49.42$59.9217.5%

      Utilities

      Item Mitchell National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $141.67$193.9927.0%
      Phone $194.04$192.250.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Loomis, SD0928.3%
      Fulton, SD1387822.3%
      Mount Vernon, SD5008119.3%
      Ethan, SD3288217.5%
      Alexandria, SD7668416.1%
      Mitchell, SD15,5998812.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hermitage, PA15,603955.3%
      Lakeway, TX15,60514141.0%
      Wilmington Island, GA15,60711111.3%
      West University Place, TX15,589227126.9%
      Mastic Beach, NY15,61012120.8%
      Mitchell, SD15,5998812.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.