Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 21% 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.

El Paso, TX
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$707
$825
+17% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$816
$870
+7% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,000
+1% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,237
+1% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$271,400
+58% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$74,714
+27% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$47,970
+21% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.1 yr
+1.0 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
60.2%
60.0%
+0.2 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
37.4%
+9.9 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
23.7 min
17.0 min
+6.7 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
526.7
+65% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,927.1
+94% 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
64.6°F
45.8°F
+18.8°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
26.4 in
+16.7 in in Sioux Falls, SD

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)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.7
+4% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$10.95
+64% in El Paso, 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 El Paso, 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
$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
None
about equal

El Paso vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Sioux Falls?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Sioux Falls?
El Paso 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).