Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 63% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 41% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$825
+63% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$870
+65% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,000
+66% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,237
+63% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$271,400
+74% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$74,714
+41% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$47,970
+28% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
35.1 yr
+4.6 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
33.7%
60.0%
+26.3 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
37.4%
+42.8 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
17.0 min
+9.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
526.7
+21% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,927.1
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
45.8°F
+5.7°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
26.4 in
+17.4 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.85/gal
+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.4
+48% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$15.26
+50% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / SD)
6.25%
4.2%
+2.0 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
None
+9.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Sioux Falls?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).