Fort Collins vs Sioux Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Collins
Sioux Falls
The Verdict
Sioux Falls is 24.7% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Collins would need approximately $60,129 in Sioux Falls 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 Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $60,129 in Sioux Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $93,548 in Fort Collins.
Living in Fort Collins vs Sioux Falls
Housing Costs
Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is higher Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $265,000. The $266,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,292 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. 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 87 in Fort Collins and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins 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 $74,800 in Fort Collins and $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux Falls residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,745/month to housing in Fort Collins vs $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/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 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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