| Index | Yankton | South Dakota | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 92 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 78 | 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 |
The cost of living in Yankton 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 Yankton is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Yankton 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.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Yankton and this is how they responded. 33% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 67% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Yankton 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 Yankton, the median home price is 16.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 33.7% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Yankton come in at $79,470, which is 2.3% 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 Yankton, healthcare costs are 4.8% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The Yankton cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $103,140 | $8,595 | $2,406 | $3,095 |
| Renters | $53,891 | $4,491 | $1,257 | $1,617 |
| 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. |
| Aten, NE | 22 | 96 | 4.3% |
| Utica, SD | 58 | 77 | 23.5% |
| Lesterville, SD | 106 | 79 | 21.1% |
| Wakonda, SD | 274 | 80 | 19.6% |
| Fordyce, NE | 222 | 80 | 20.0% |
| Yankton, SD | 15,183 | 91 | 9.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hampton Bays, NY | 15,184 | 153 | 53.4% |
| Rosemère, QC | 15,188 | n/a | |
| Grovetown, GA | 15,176 | 98 | 1.7% |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,190 | 132 | 31.8% |
| Hereford, TX | 15,173 | 87 | 12.9% |
| Yankton, SD | 15,183 | 91 | 9.0% |
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