City Comparison

Sioux City vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sioux City

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

11.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.7%, with Toledo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to $67,151 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
74
Sioux City
55
Toledo
Groceries
97
Sioux City
98
Toledo
Utilities
89
Sioux City
92
Toledo
Transportation
92
Sioux City
101
Toledo
Healthcare
101
Sioux City
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $67,151 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $83,766 in Sioux City.

Living in Sioux City vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Sioux City's housing index of 74 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $182,000 vs $128,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Sioux City compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux City and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux City vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Sioux City vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux City and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,500 in Sioux City and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $76,163 and $54,805 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 $985/month in Toledo. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 11.7% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,151 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Sioux City's housing index is 74 with median homes at $182,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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