Buffalo County, SD at a glance
Median household income
$47,045$3,920 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Buffalo County, SD?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Buffalo County, SD? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Buffalo County, SD, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $830 | $9,960 | $33,200 | 21.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $918 | $11,016 | $36,720 | 23.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,204 | $14,448 | $48,160 | 30.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,444 | $17,328 | $57,760 | 36.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,864 | $22,368 | $74,560 | 47.5% |
What a typical income covers in Buffalo County, SD
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $47,045 a year ($3,920 a month before tax).
What $47,045 leaves after South Dakota taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and South Dakota tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in South Dakota
Living in Buffalo County, SD: common questions
What is the median household income in Buffalo County, SD?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Buffalo County, SD is $47,045 per year (approximately $3,920 per month).
What is the average rent in Buffalo County, SD?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $830 for a studio, $918 for one bedroom, $1,204 for two, $1,444 for three and $1,864 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Buffalo County, SD expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for South Dakota is 88.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Buffalo County, SD?
To keep a $1,204 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $48,160 a year, or $4,013 a month. That is 102% of what the typical household in Buffalo County, SD earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Buffalo County, SD?
On the local median income of $47,045 ($3,920 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,960 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,176 for everything else and $784 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,204 takes 61% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Buffalo County, SD?
Homes in South Dakota paid 15.4¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $138. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.