Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 9% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$825
+51% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$870
+45% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,000
+41% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,237
+21% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$271,400
+35% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$74,714
+9% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,970
+6% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
35.1 yr
+1.1 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
46.3%
60.0%
+13.7 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
37.4%
+21.0 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
17.0 min
+9.8 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
526.7
+13% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
2,927.1
+18% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
45.8°F
+16.8°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
26.4 in
+23.3 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
15.7
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$10.95
+67% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Atlanta, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / SD)
4%
4.2%
+0.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Sioux Falls?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).