Living Cost Compare
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 15% higher in Rochester, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,080
$825
+24% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,106
$870
+21% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,243
$1,000
+20% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,646
$1,237
+25% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$287,500
$271,400
+6% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$87,767
$74,714
+15% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,620
$47,970
+21% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.1 yr
+1.3 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.4%
60.0%
+5.4 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.1%
37.4%
+12.7 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
17.2 min
17.0 min
+0.2 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
158.9
526.7
+231% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
1,379
2,927.1
+112% 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
45.4°F
45.8°F
+0.4°F in Sioux Falls, SD
Annual Precipitation
33.0 in
26.4 in
+6.6 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
15.7
+7% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$10.95
+27% in Rochester, MN

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 (MN / SD)
6.875%
4.2%
+2.7 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
None
+9.8 pp in MN

Rochester vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Sioux Falls?
Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).