Rapid City, SD vs Sioux Falls, SD
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sioux Falls, SD and Rapid City, SD spend within 2.2% of each other per resident — $13,114 versus $12,828 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Rapid City, SD holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 56/100 (grade C) for Sioux Falls, SD — a 34-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Rapid City, SD reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Sioux Falls, SD carries $1,632 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Rapid City, SD at $2,308 per resident and in Sioux Falls, SD at $1,410.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Rapid City, SD at 12% of total revenue, whereas Sioux Falls, SD relies most on other revenue at 16%.
Summary
Sioux Falls spends 2.2% more per capita than Rapid City ($286/person difference). Rapid City, SD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $25 | $71 |
| Sales Tax | $1,480 | $230 |
| Income Tax | $1,532 | $716 |
| Intergovernmental | $552 | $658 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,480 | $2,124 |
| Other | $2,212 | $2,334 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $93 | $182 |
| Highways & Roads | $158 | $200 |
| Education | $67 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,036 | $1,726 |
| Health | $446 | $536 |
| Hospitals | $15 | $781 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,308 | $1,410 |
| Housing | $2,811 | $2,376 |
| Utilities | $2,503 | $1,486 |
| Interest on Debt | $358 | $516 |
| Other | $3,033 | $3,902 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.