City Comparison

Sioux City vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sioux City

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

21.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 21.8%, with Sioux City being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to $95,930 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
74
Sioux City
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
97
Sioux City
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
89
Sioux City
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
92
Sioux City
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
101
Sioux City
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $95,930 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $58,636 in Sioux City.

Living in Sioux City vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Sioux City's housing index of 74 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $182,000 vs $456,000. The $274,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,808 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Sioux City compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux City and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux City vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Sioux City vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux City and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $76,163 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Sioux City vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux City is 21.8% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $95,930 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Sioux City's housing index is 74 with median homes at $182,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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