Durham vs Sioux City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Sioux City
The Verdict
Sioux City is 17.4% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $63,861 in Sioux City to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $63,861 in Sioux City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux City equals $88,081 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Sioux City
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Sioux City's 74, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $182,000. The $158,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,272 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $875/mo in Sioux City, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 97 in Sioux City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $461/month in Sioux City. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Durham and 89 in Sioux City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $356 in Sioux City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham 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 $57,738 in Durham and $65,500 in Sioux City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 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 $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $1,528/month in Sioux City. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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