Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 4% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$825
+50% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$870
+37% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,000
+34% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,237
+35% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$271,400
+24% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$74,714
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$47,970
+12% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.1 yr
+13.1 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
50.3%
60.0%
+9.7 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
37.4%
+20.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
17.0 min
+2.6 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
526.7
+61% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,927.1
+45% 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
54.9°F
45.8°F
+9.1°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
26.4 in
+16.7 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.4
+20% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$15.26
+49% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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 (DE / SD)
None
4.2%
+4.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Sioux Falls?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).