Living Cost Compare
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 16% higher in West Valley City, UT. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$825
$1,085
+32% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,191
+37% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,000
$1,333
+33% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,237
$1,723
+39% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,400
$377,300
+39% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$74,714
$88,604
+19% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,970
$55,240
+15% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
30.3 yr
+4.8 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
60.0%
71.1%
+11.1 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
15.7%
+21.7 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
17.0 min
22.2 min
+5.2 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
526.7
471.8
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,927.1
1,855.5
+37% 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
52.8°F
+7.0°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
26.4 in
16.1 in
+10.3 in in Sioux Falls, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
13.4
+13% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$11.84
+22% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / UT)
4.2%
6.1%
+1.9 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Sioux Falls vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or West Valley City?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or West Valley City?
Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).