Is Sioux Falls expensive to live in?

Sioux Falls is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $870 per month ranks #88 of 112 and is 19% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Sioux Falls?

Average rent in Sioux Falls, SD runs a studio around $825, a one-bedroom around $870, a two-bedroom around $1,000, a three-bedroom around $1,237 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $870 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $74,714.

How much does it cost to live in Sioux Falls per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Sioux Falls is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Sioux Falls, SD

Population 197,642 · South Dakota

~$1,030/mo est.1BR $870Home $271,400

Compare with:

The cost of living in Sioux Falls, SD is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $870 a month — 19% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $825 and two-bedrooms $1,000.

Median household income here is $74,714, 8% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,030 before food and transport. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $870

Studio

$825

1 Bedroom

$870

2 Bedroom

$1,000

3 Bedroom

$1,237

Buying a Home$271,400

Median Home Value

$271,400

Income$74,714

Median Household Income

$74,714

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,970

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities15.7¢/kWh

Electricity

15.7¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$10.95/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (SD)4.2% sales

State Sales Tax

4.20%

State Income Tax (top rate)

None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime526.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

526.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,927.1

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Sioux Falls Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 35.1 yrs

Median Age

35.1 yrs

Homeownership

60.0%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

Avg Commute

17.0 min

Climate45.8°F

Avg Annual Temperature

45.8°F

Annual Precipitation

26.4 in

Sioux Falls cost of living — FAQ

Is Sioux Falls expensive to live in?: Sioux Falls is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $870 per month ranks #88 of 112 and is 19% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Sioux Falls?: Average rent in Sioux Falls, SD runs a studio around $825, a one-bedroom around $870, a two-bedroom around $1,000, a three-bedroom around $1,237 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $870 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $74,714.
How much does it cost to live in Sioux Falls per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Sioux Falls is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Sioux Falls with nearby cities

Sioux Falls vs Omaha Sioux Falls vs Bellevue Sioux Falls vs Lincoln Sioux Falls vs Minneapolis Sioux Falls vs St. Paul Sioux Falls vs Des Moines

Nearby cities

Omaha, NE 163 mi Bellevue, NE 170 mi Lincoln, NE 189 mi Minneapolis, MN 198 mi St. Paul, MN 205 mi Des Moines, IA 208 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.