Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$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 Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 19% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$798
$825
+3% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$782
$870
+11% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,000
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,237
+12% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$271,400
+60% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$74,714
+24% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$47,970
+1% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.1 yr
+0.1 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
62.2%
60.0%
+2.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
37.4%
+8.9 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
21.4 min
17.0 min
+4.4 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
526.7
+71% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,927.1
+30% 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
50.5°F
45.8°F
+4.7°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
26.4 in
+12.0 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
15.7
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$10.95
+20% in Fort Wayne, IN

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 (IN / SD)
7%
4.2%
+2.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Sioux Falls?
Fort Wayne, IN 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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Sioux Falls?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).