Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in Tulsa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Tulsa?

Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Sioux Falls vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 22% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Sioux Falls, SD

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$825

$786

+5% in Sioux Falls, SD

1 Bedroom

$870

$847

+3% in Sioux Falls, SD

2 Bedroom

$1,000

$1,045

+5% in Tulsa, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,237

$1,265

+2% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$271,400

$189,600

+30% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$74,714

$58,407

+22% in Sioux Falls, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,970

$46,670

+3% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

35.5 yr

+0.4 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

60.0%

52.0%

+8.0 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

33.3%

+4.1 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.7 min

+1.7 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

526.7

948.9

+80% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

2,927.1

3,664.6

+25% in Tulsa, OK

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

60.1°F

+14.3°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

26.4 in

43.7 in

+17.3 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.7

13.4

+15% in Sioux Falls, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.95

$27.15

+148% in Tulsa, OK

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 Tulsa, OK

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / OK)

4.2%

4.5%

+0.3 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in OK

Sioux Falls vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Tulsa?: Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).