Living Cost Compare
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 5% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Sioux Falls, SD
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$825
$1,242
+51% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,324
+52% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,000
$1,673
+67% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,237
$1,729
+40% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,400
$375,300
+38% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$74,714
$71,302
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,970
$48,940
+2% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
60.0%
50.2%
+9.8 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
44.6%
+7.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
17.0 min
24.7 min
+7.7 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
526.7
443.2
+16% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,927.1
1,473.2
+50% 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
45.8°F
73.4°F
+27.6°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
26.4 in
46.3 in
+19.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.77/gal
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
15.2
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.95
$23.62
+116% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Tampa, FL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / FL)
4.2%
6%
+1.8 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Sioux Falls vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Tampa?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Tampa?
Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).