Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 16% 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.

Indianapolis, IN
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$933
$825
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$870
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,000
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,237
+5% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$271,400
+31% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$74,714
+19% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$47,970
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.1 yr
+1.0 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
55.3%
60.0%
+4.7 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
37.4%
+3.2 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
24.3 min
17.0 min
+7.3 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
526.7
+44% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
2,927.1
+13% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.2°F
45.8°F
+7.4°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
26.4 in
+16.1 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

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

Indianapolis vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Sioux Falls?
Indianapolis 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).