City Comparison

Bangor vs Sioux City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bangor

Maine
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$52,500
Median Income

Sioux City

Iowa
86
Below Average
$182,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

0.0%

Bangor is 0.0% less expensive than Sioux City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bangor would need approximately $75,000 in Sioux City to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
83
Bangor
74
Sioux City
Groceries
104
Bangor
97
Sioux City
Utilities
108
Bangor
89
Sioux City
Transportation
111
Bangor
92
Sioux City
Healthcare
104
Bangor
101
Sioux City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bangor has the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Sioux City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux City equals $75,000 in Bangor.

Living in Bangor vs Sioux City

Housing Costs

Bangor's housing index of 83 is higher Sioux City's 74, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $182,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Bangor compared to $875/mo in Sioux City, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Bangor and 97 in Sioux City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Bangor vs $461/month in Sioux City. Sioux City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Bangor and 89 in Sioux City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Bangor vs $356 in Sioux City. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Bangor and 101 in Sioux City. 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 $52,500 in Bangor and $65,500 in Sioux City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,047 and $76,163 respectively. Sioux City residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,225/month to housing in Bangor vs $1,528/month in Sioux City. In Bangor, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bangor is 0.0% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Bangor has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,000 in Sioux City, based on the cost of living difference.
Bangor's housing index is 83 with median homes at $235,000, while Sioux City's is 74 with median homes at $182,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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