Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Sioux Falls?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Sioux Falls Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 9% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$825

+34% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$870

+32% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,000

+33% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,237

+21% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$271,400

+8% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$74,714

+10% in Sioux Falls, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$47,970

+7% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

35.1 yr

+1.7 yr in Sioux Falls, SD

Homeownership

42.4%

60.0%

+17.6 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

about equal

Avg Commute

26.0 min

17.0 min

+9.0 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

526.7

+20% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

2,927.1

+14% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

45.8°F

+21.4°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

26.4 in

+11.2 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.7

+4% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$10.95

+64% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / SD)

6.25%

4.2%

+2.0 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Dallas vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Sioux Falls?: Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Sioux Falls?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Sioux Falls?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).