Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Worcester?

Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Worcester?

Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sioux Falls vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 10% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Sioux Falls, SD

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$825

$1,087

+32% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$870

$1,028

+18% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,000

$1,476

+48% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,237

$1,675

+35% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$271,400

$339,500

+25% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$74,714

$67,544

+10% in Sioux Falls, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,970

$57,830

+21% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

34.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Sioux Falls, SD

Homeownership

60.0%

42.4%

+17.6 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

34.1%

+3.3 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.1 min

+8.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

526.7

640.2

+22% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

2,927.1

1,580.3

+46% 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

47.9°F

+2.1°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

26.4 in

48.1 in

+21.7 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.6

+93% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$30.66

+101% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Sioux Falls, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MA)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Sioux Falls vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sioux Falls or Worcester?: Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sioux Falls than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Sioux Falls versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Sioux Falls or Worcester?: Sioux Falls is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).