City Comparison

Sioux City vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sioux City

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

Virginia Beach

Virginia
105
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$73,418
Median Income

The Verdict

18.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.1%, with Sioux City being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to $91,570 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
74
Sioux City
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
97
Sioux City
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
89
Sioux City
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
92
Sioux City
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
101
Sioux City
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $91,570 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $61,429 in Sioux City.

Living in Sioux City vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Sioux City's housing index of 74 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $182,000 vs $310,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Sioux City compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux City and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux City vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. 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 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Sioux City vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux City and 99 in Virginia Beach. 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 $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $76,163 and $69,922 respectively. Sioux City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Sioux City vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux City is 18.1% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,570 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Sioux City's housing index is 74 with median homes at $182,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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