Sioux Falls, SD vs Rapid City, 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 Sioux Falls, SD at $1,410 per resident and in Rapid City, SD at $2,308.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Sioux Falls, SD at 16% of total revenue, whereas Rapid City, SD relies most on charges and fees at 12%.
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 | $71 | $25 |
| Sales Tax | $230 | $1,480 |
| Income Tax | $716 | $1,532 |
| Intergovernmental | $658 | $552 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,124 | $3,480 |
| Other | $2,334 | $2,212 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $182 | $93 |
| Highways & Roads | $200 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $67 |
| Public Welfare | $1,726 | $1,036 |
| Health | $536 | $446 |
| Hospitals | $781 | $15 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,410 | $2,308 |
| Housing | $2,376 | $2,811 |
| Utilities | $1,486 | $2,503 |
| Interest on Debt | $516 | $358 |
| Other | $3,902 | $3,033 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.