Sioux City vs Sioux Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Sioux City
Sioux Falls
The Verdict
Sioux City is 7.5% less expensive than Sioux Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Sioux City would need approximately $81,105 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 Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $81,105 in Sioux Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $69,355 in Sioux City.
Living in Sioux City vs Sioux Falls
Housing Costs
Sioux City's housing index of 74 is lower Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $182,000 vs $265,000. The $83,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,400 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Sioux City compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux City and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux City 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 89 in Sioux City and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Sioux City vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux City 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 $65,500 in Sioux City and $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $76,163 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Sioux City vs $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/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 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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