City Comparison

Alexandria vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Sioux Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

55.9%

Living in Sioux Falls costs 55.9% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $48,103 in Sioux Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
113
Alexandria
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
97
Alexandria
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
107
Alexandria
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $48,103 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $116,935 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $265,000. The $325,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $1,025.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 101 in Sioux Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $66,359 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 121 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux Falls is 55.9% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,103 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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