| Index | Brandon | South Dakota | National |
| Cost of living | 104 | 92 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Brandon? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Brandon stands at 104, making it 4% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Brandon is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Brandon cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 21.8% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Brandon affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Brandon, for instance, where the median home price falls 33.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 5% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Brandon flaunting a median household income of $138,250, 70% higher than the national norm.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Brandon, the utilities index is 4% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Brandon, the groceries index is 2.1% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Brandon, healthcare costs are 4.8% lower than the national average.
The Brandon cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $159,735 | $13,311 | $3,727 | $4,793 |
| Renters | $56,692 | $4,724 | $1,323 | $1,701 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| South Dakota | 4.5% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| South Dakota | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Sherman, SD | 41 | 80 | 20.2% |
| Hills, MN | 842 | 89 | 11.1% |
| Valley Springs, SD | 920 | 91 | 9.5% |
| Larchwood, IA | 1,000 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Garretson, SD | 1,545 | 92 | 8.3% |
| Brandon, SD | 10,388 | 104 | 4.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Kennett, MO | 10,386 | 82 | 18.2% |
| St. Albans, WV | 10,386 | 89 | 11.1% |
| Lexington, NE | 10,384 | 89 | 10.8% |
| Bithlo, FL | 10,399 | 115 | 14.8% |
| Purcellville, VA | 10,402 | 144 | 44.0% |
| Brandon, SD | 10,388 | 104 | 4.1% |
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