Living Cost Compare
Davenport

Iowa

$960/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 $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 14% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$726
$825
+14% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$777
$870
+12% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$962
$1,000
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,117
$1,237
+11% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$271,400
+67% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$64,497
$74,714
+16% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,550
$47,970
+1% in Davenport, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
35.1 yr
+2.7 yr in Davenport, IA
Homeownership
63.0%
60.0%
+3.0 pp in Davenport, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.0%
37.4%
+7.4 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
18.7 min
17.0 min
+1.7 min in Davenport, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
581.4
526.7
+9% in Davenport, IA
Property Crime
3,559.6
2,927.1
+18% in Davenport, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.3°F
45.8°F
+3.5°F in Davenport, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
26.4 in
+9.7 in in Davenport, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.4
+4% in Davenport, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$15.26
+31% in Davenport, IA

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 (IA / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Davenport vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Sioux Falls?
Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Sioux Falls?
Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% 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).