La Crescent, MN vs Belle Fourche, SD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Belle Fourche, SD has a modeled overall cost index 20.5% lower than La Crescent, MN.

La Crescent, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / month
Belle Fourche, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare La Crescent, MN and Belle Fourche, SD using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $1,220/month in Belle Fourche, SD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $135,360 in Belle Fourche, SD

Regional cost estimates: La Crescent, MN uses Madison, WI. Belle Fourche, SD uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 20.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,220
Savings
Annual Impact
$14.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

La Crescent, MN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
86.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$343K

Belle Fourche, SD

Population:6K
Cost Index:
68.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$339K

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La Crescent, MN

The North Star State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Belle Fourche, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

6K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 6K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: La Crescent, MN vs Belle Fourche, SD

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 24.8%
La Crescent, MN
$1,660
Belle Fourche, SD
$1,249
Difference
$411
less
Transportation
↓ 21.1%
La Crescent, MN
$1,304
Belle Fourche, SD
$1,029
Difference
$275
less
Housing
↓ 10.5%
La Crescent, MN
$2,298
Belle Fourche, SD
$2,057
Difference
$240
less
Healthcare
↓ 23.4%
La Crescent, MN
$736
Belle Fourche, SD
$564
Difference
$172
less
Groceries
↓ 6.5%
La Crescent, MN
$982
Belle Fourche, SD
$918
Difference
$63.91
less
All Utilities
↓ 11.0%
La Crescent, MN
$520
Belle Fourche, SD
$463
Difference
$57.17
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$790
To$800
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$870
To$900
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,090
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,480
To$1,310
↓ $170
La Crescent, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/mo

Belle Fourche, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in La Crescent, MN
$6,280
Monthly in Belle Fourche, SD
$1,220
Difference

Home Values

La Crescent
Belle Fourche
$343K
Median Value
$339K
↑ +4.4%
YoY Change
↑ +0.8%
↑ +41.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.8%

Homes in Belle Fourche are 1% less expensive than La Crescent

Calculate payment - La CrescentCalculate payment - Belle Fourche

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $10.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$869
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.0%
Rate difference

La Crescent, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Belle Fourche, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

La Crescent, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Belle Fourche, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

La Crescent
Belle Fourche
42 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
72.1%
Good Air Days
35.2%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from La Crescent, MN to Belle Fourche, SD

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Belle Fourche, SD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in La Crescent, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your La Crescent to Belle Fourche moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Belle Fourche, SD by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: La Crescent, MN vs Belle Fourche, SD

How do the cost estimates for La Crescent, MN and Belle Fourche, SD compare?

Belle Fourche, SD has a modeled overall cost index 20.5% lower than La Crescent, MN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in La Crescent, MN, the model estimates $135,360 in Belle Fourche, SD. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for La Crescent, MN and Belle Fourche, SD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,140/month in La Crescent, MN and $1,090/month in Belle Fourche, SD. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Minnesota and South Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

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