Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Louisville, KY versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 13% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$786
$825
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$877
$870
+1% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,000
+9% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,237
+5% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$271,400
+23% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$74,714
+15% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$47,970
+1% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
35.1 yr
+2.6 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
60.0%
+0.6 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
37.4%
+4.0 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
22.7 min
17.0 min
+5.7 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
763.4
526.7
+31% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,536.6
2,927.1
+17% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
45.8°F
+12.4°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
26.4 in
+18.5 in in Louisville, KY

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 — TARC vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
15.7
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$10.95
+63% in Louisville, KY

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 Louisville, KY
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 (KY / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
None
+3.5 pp in KY

Louisville vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Louisville, KY's $1,060, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Sioux Falls?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).