City Comparison

Fort Myers vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Myers

Florida
104
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$52,200
Median Income

Sioux Falls

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

The Verdict

11.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.8%, with Sioux Falls being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fort Myers has equivalent purchasing power to $67,067 in Sioux Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
112
Fort Myers
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
104
Fort Myers
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
101
Fort Myers
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
103
Fort Myers
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
108
Fort Myers
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has the same purchasing power as $67,067 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $83,871 in Fort Myers.

Living in Fort Myers vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is higher Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $265,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Fort Myers and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers 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 $52,200 in Fort Myers and $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 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 $1,218/month to housing in Fort Myers vs $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux Falls is 11.8% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,067 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Myers's housing index is 112 with median homes at $340,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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