Sioux Falls vs Sydney
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Sioux Falls
Sydney
The Verdict
Sioux Falls is 11.4% less expensive than Sydney overall. A household earning $75,000 in Sioux Falls would need approximately $84,677 in Sydney 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 Falls has the same purchasing power as $84,677 in Sydney.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sydney equals $66,429 in Sioux Falls.
Living in Sioux Falls vs Sydney
Housing Costs
Sioux Falls's housing index of 80 is lower Sydney's 142, translating to median home prices of $265,000 vs $825,000. The $560,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,396 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls compared to $2,050/mo in Sydney, a monthly difference of $950.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux Falls and 95 in Sydney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux Falls vs $451/month in Sydney. 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 94 in Sioux Falls and 98 in Sydney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Sioux Falls vs $392 in Sydney. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux Falls and 72 in Sydney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 29-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $61,714 in Sioux Falls and $60,000 in Sydney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,359 and $57,143 respectively. Sioux Falls residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,440/month to housing in Sioux Falls vs $1,400/month in Sydney. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Sydney, median rent of $2,050/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases