Valley Falls, KS vs De Smet, SD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

De Smet, SD has a modeled overall cost index 19.1% lower than Valley Falls, KS.

Valley Falls, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / month
De Smet, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Valley Falls, KS and De Smet, 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: $1,196/month in De Smet, SD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $135,646 in De Smet, SD

Regional cost estimates: Valley Falls, KS uses Kansas City, MO. De Smet, SD uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 19.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,196
Savings
Annual Impact
$14.4K
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.

Valley Falls, KS

Population:1K
Cost Index:
78.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$240K

De Smet, SD

Population:1K
Cost Index:
63.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$246K

Planning the move to De Smet?

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Valley Falls, KS

The Sunflower State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 1K residents.

De Smet, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

1K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Valley Falls, KS vs De Smet, 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
↓ 25.5%
Valley Falls, KS
$1,733
De Smet, SD
$1,291
Difference
$442
less
Transportation
↓ 23.5%
Valley Falls, KS
$1,311
De Smet, SD
$1,003
Difference
$308
less
Housing
↓ 10.1%
Valley Falls, KS
$2,043
De Smet, SD
$1,837
Difference
$206
less
All Utilities
↓ 22.1%
Valley Falls, KS
$618
De Smet, SD
$481
Difference
$136
less
Groceries
↓ 11.0%
Valley Falls, KS
$1,095
De Smet, SD
$975
Difference
$120
less
Healthcare
↑ 2.2%
Valley Falls, KS
$700
De Smet, SD
$716
Difference
$15.68
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$670
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$680
To$740
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$890
To$970
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,160
→ $0
Valley Falls, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/mo

De Smet, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Valley Falls, KS
$6,304
Monthly in De Smet, SD
$1,196
Difference

Home Values

Valley Falls
De Smet
$240K
Median Value
$246K
↑ +3.3%
YoY Change
↑ +7.1%
↑ +44%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.7%

Homes in De Smet are 2% more expensive than Valley Falls

Calculate payment - Valley FallsCalculate payment - De Smet

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $8.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$702
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.6%
Rate difference

Valley Falls, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

De Smet, 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

Valley Falls, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

De Smet, 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

Valley Falls
De Smet
46 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
66.4%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Valley Falls, KS to De Smet, 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 De Smet, SD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Valley Falls, KS. 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 Valley Falls to De Smet moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Valley Falls, KS vs De Smet, SD

How do the cost estimates for Valley Falls, KS and De Smet, SD compare?

De Smet, SD has a modeled overall cost index 19.1% lower than Valley Falls, KS. 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 Valley Falls, KS, the model estimates $135,646 in De Smet, 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 Valley Falls, KS and De Smet, SD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $890/month in Valley Falls, KS and $970/month in De Smet, 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 Kansas and South Dakota on TaxTakeHome.com

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