Living Cost Compare
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 30% higher in Washington, DC. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Sioux Falls, SD
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$825
$1,763
+114% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,885
+117% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,000
$1,949
+95% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,237
$2,249
+82% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,400
$724,600
+167% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$74,714
$106,287
+42% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,970
$71,060
+48% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.9 yr
+0.2 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
60.0%
41.1%
+18.9 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
63.6%
+26.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
17.0 min
30.3 min
+13.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
526.7
936.3
+78% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,927.1
3,627.9
+24% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+12.4°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
26.4 in
39.7 in
+13.4 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
25.4
+61% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.95
$22.01
+101% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
4.2%
6%
+1.8 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Sioux Falls vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Washington?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Washington?
Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).