Mellette County, SD at a glance
Median household income
$54,076$4,506 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Mellette 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 Mellette County, SD? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Mellette 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 | $654 | $7,848 | $26,160 | 14.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $722 | $8,664 | $28,880 | 16% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $948 | $11,376 | $37,920 | 21% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,206 | $14,472 | $48,240 | 26.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,468 | $17,616 | $58,720 | 32.6% |
Rent in Mellette County, SD, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Mellette County, SD
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $54,076 a year ($4,506 a month before tax).
What $54,076 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 Mellette County, SD: common questions
What is the median household income in Mellette County, SD?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Mellette County, SD is $54,076 per year (approximately $4,506 per month).
What is the average rent in Mellette County, SD?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $654 for a studio, $722 for one bedroom, $948 for two, $1,206 for three and $1,468 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 Mellette 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 Mellette County, SD?
To keep a $948 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $37,920 a year, or $3,160 a month. That is 70% of what the typical household in Mellette County, SD earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Mellette County, SD?
On the local median income of $54,076 ($4,506 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,253 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,352 for everything else and $901 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $948 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Mellette 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.