Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Pierre, South Dakota

the St. Charles Hotel in Pierre, South Dakota
Photo by WeaponizingArchitecture via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pierre cost of living

A manageable small-capital budget needs a serious winter and driving reserve

The catalog estimates $2,917 per month for a local lifestyle and $4,335 for a couple. It lists one bedroom rent at $873, two bedrooms at $1,013, utilities at $223, groceries at $472, transportation at $1,077, healthcare at $495, dining at $82, and internet at 352.45 Mbps. The transportation line is important because winter, regional care, family visits, and airport trips all rely on dependable vehicle access.

Property fields list Moderate taxes, a 1.14% effective rate, median real-estate taxes of $2,632, and a median home value of $230,700. Request the actual tax bill, insurance quote, utility history, heating system, cooling system, roof, driveway, snow responsibility, trees, drainage, and any flood information. Add a reserve for winter repairs, snow removal, power interruption, and a longer medical trip.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,917 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$873
Utilities (in rent)
$223
Food
$472/mo
Transportation
$1,077/mo
Healthcare
$495

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

Rebuild the budget from documents

Use the city estimate as a starting line. Add the actual lease or mortgage, tax bill, insurance, heat, cooling, prescriptions, vehicle costs, snow work, storm supplies, maintenance, and regional travel.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,036

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,335

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$873

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$240/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Moderate

Fair

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
8.7%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
23.5%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
33.7%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$48,900

Could Pierre fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,917 per month
Two people
$4,335 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$873
Food
$472
Transportation
$1,077
Healthcare
$495

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Pierre in everyday life

Could Pierre work for you?

What may work well

  • A state-capital setting provides public services and a stable civic economy alongside a small-city housing market.
  • Strong catalog internet, local care, pharmacies, and airport access support household and family logistics.
  • The cost review can be made concrete through tax, insurance, utility, property, and vehicle documents.

What to think about

  • The $1,077 transportation estimate reflects a car-based life and can rise with regional care and winter driving.
  • Heating, snow, roof, driveway, pipes, wind, and power costs may be meaningful beyond the headline home price.
  • Citywide estimates do not settle the exact lease, tax bill, insurance premium, or healthcare needs.

Create a Pierre household budget from real documents

  1. Collect housing records

    Request the tax bill, insurance quotes, utility history, heating and cooling records, roof age, insulation details, driveway condition, drainage, and snow responsibility.

  2. Price the vehicle year

    Add fuel, maintenance, insurance, registration, tires, winter equipment, parking, family visits, regional care, airport travel, and a repair reserve.

  3. Confirm care costs

    Ask Avera and the insurer about premiums, prescriptions, specialist visits, imaging, rehabilitation, emergency transfer, home health, and out-of-town follow-up.

  4. Run a hard-weather month

    Estimate heat, snow removal, backup power, storm supplies, deductible exposure, temporary lodging, food access, and transport if ice or wind closes a preferred route.

Questions retirees ask

How much does it cost to retire in Pierre?

The catalog estimates $2,917 per month for a local lifestyle and $4,335 for a couple. One-bedroom rent is $873 and two-bedroom rent is $1,013 in the catalog. Add exact housing, insurance, taxes, transportation, healthcare, winter, and maintenance costs.

Are homes affordable in Pierre?

The catalog median home value is $230,700, with property taxes labeled Moderate and a 1.14% effective-rate field. Confirm the actual tax bill, insurance, heating, roof, driveway, snow, drainage, and repairs for the chosen home.

Why is transportation a major budget line?

The catalog labels car use Required and lists transportation at $1,077 per month. Winter conditions, care transfers, family visits, airport travel, and regional referrals make the vehicle budget important.

Pierre's city estimate can be workable for the right household, but the honest budget includes heat, snow, insurance, vehicle costs, home maintenance, healthcare, and regional travel. Use documents from the chosen address before treating the monthly figure as settled.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.