Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 5% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$815
$825
+1% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$900
$870
+3% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,000
+7% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,237
+1% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$271,400
+3% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$74,714
+6% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$47,970
+7% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.1 yr
+1.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
60.0%
+1.9 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
37.4%
+8.8 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
17.0 min
+2.3 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
526.7
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,395.7
2,927.1
+22% 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
62.1°F
45.8°F
+16.3°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
26.4 in
+28.0 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.4
+6% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$15.26
+37% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 (AL / SD)
4%
4.2%
+0.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Sioux Falls?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).