Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 7% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$818
$825
+1% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$827
$870
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,000
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,237
+3% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$271,400
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$74,714
+7% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$47,970
+3% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.1 yr
+1.6 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
64.1%
60.0%
+4.1 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
37.4%
+6.4 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
18.2 min
17.0 min
+1.2 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
526.7
+44% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
1,235.5
2,927.1
+137% 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
44.2°F
45.8°F
+1.6°F in Sioux Falls, SD
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
26.4 in
+16.0 in in Sioux Falls, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
15.4
+7% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$15.26
+35% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Idaho Falls vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Sioux Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls 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 Idaho Falls versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Sioux Falls?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).