Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 39% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$973
$825
+15% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$870
+17% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,000
+23% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,237
+14% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$271,400
+25% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$74,714
+65% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$47,970
+20% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
35.1 yr
+1.7 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
25.7%
60.0%
+34.3 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
37.4%
+19.1 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
22.8 min
17.0 min
+5.8 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
526.7
+0% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
2,927.1
+1% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
45.8°F
+5.4°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
26.4 in
+17.2 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Hartford, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.4
+37% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$15.26
+35% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / SD)
6.35%
4.2%
+2.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
None
+7.0 pp in CT

Hartford vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Sioux Falls?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).