| Index | Howard | South Dakota | National |
| Cost of living | 76 | 89 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 91 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 40 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 84 | 88 | 100 |


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| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $53,571 | $4,464 | $1,250 | $1,607 |
| Renters | $20,673 | $1,723 | $482 | $620 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| South Dakota | 4.5% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| South Dakota | 0% | 0% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $24.32 | $24.26 | 0.2% |
| Beauty Salon | $35.22 | $45.56 | 22.7% |
| Toothpaste | $3.80 | $3.70 | 2.7% |
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 | 0.7% |
| Movie | $9.36 | $12.13 | 22.9% |
| Bowling | $16.40 | $18.00 | 8.9% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 | 0.8% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 | 10.4% |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 | 1.7% |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 | 6.2% |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 | 12.0% |
| Beer | $9.33 | $10.41 | 10.4% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $135.10 | $125.68 | 7.5% |
| Doctor | $177.33 | $135.78 | 30.6% |
| Dentist | $108.21 | $113.29 | 4.5% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.48 | $10.65 | 1.7% |
| Lipitor | $357.08 | $468.60 | 23.8% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $62,800.00 | $184,700.00 | 66.0% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $2,133.89 | $2,346.69 | 9.1% |
| Apartment Rent | $527.00 | $949.00 | 44.5% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 | 5.3% |
| Tire Balancing | $49.42 | $59.92 | 17.5% |
| Item | Howard | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $141.67 | $193.99 | 27.0% |
| Phone | $194.04 | $192.25 | 0.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Winfred, SD | 68 | 92 | 8.3% |
| Roswell, SD | 0 | 92 | 8.3% |
| Vilas, SD | 21 | 92 | 8.3% |
| Fedora, SD | 16 | 69 | 31.2% |
| Canova, SD | 137 | 69 | 30.8% |
| Howard, SD | 754 | 76 | 23.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Junction City, CA | 754 | 122 | 22.1% |
| Stratton, CO | 754 | 96 | 3.6% |
| Palmona Park, FL | 754 | 98 | 2.4% |
| Chatham, LA | 754 | 74 | 25.6% |
| Carrolltown, PA | 754 | 87 | 12.8% |
| Howard, SD | 754 | 76 | 23.7% |