Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 1% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$825
+30% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$870
+31% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,000
+29% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,237
+20% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$271,400
+14% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$74,714
+1% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$47,970
+12% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
35.1 yr
+0.6 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
60.0%
+14.5 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
37.4%
+5.9 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
17.0 min
+16.5 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
526.7
+2% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,927.1
+16% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
45.8°F
+6.9°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
26.4 in
+11.6 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
15.7
+34% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$10.95
+29% in Chicago, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / SD)
6.25%
4.2%
+2.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Chicago vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Sioux Falls?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).