Cost of Living in Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls, SD-MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Sioux Falls, SD to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Sioux Falls, SD?
With a price level of 90.6 (U.S. average = 100), Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 22% below average; everyday goods are 5% below average; utilities are 19% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 8% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Sioux Falls, SD vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.6 | −9.4% |
| Housing | 77.6 | −22.4% |
| Goods | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Utilities | 80.7 | −19.3% |
| Other services | 91.9 | −8.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Sioux Falls, SD
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $860 | $34,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $978 | $39,120/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,150 | $46,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,578 | $63,120/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,919 | $76,760/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Sioux Falls, SD
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Sioux Falls, SD | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,300 | $31,347 |
| $60,000 | $54,400 | $45,890 |
| $80,000 | $72,500 | $59,834 |
| $100,000 | $90,600 | $72,567 |
| $150,000 | $135,900 | $104,154 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, South Dakota 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Sioux Falls, SD's median wage of $47,970 takes home about $3,394 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $978, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,416 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Sioux Falls, SD
- Federal income tax$3,576
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,974
- Medicare (1.45%)$696
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,724
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Sioux Falls, SD
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant and Auditor | $80,920 | $65,757 | $72,555 |
| Registered Nurse | $75,350 | $61,839 | $68,231 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,910 | $39,872 | $43,994 |
| Customer Service Representative | $43,850 | $37,413 | $41,281 |
| Nursing Assistant | $39,190 | $33,669 | $37,150 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,560 | $33,163 | $36,591 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,650 | $32,432 | $35,784 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,310 | $30,552 | $33,710 |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| Cashier | $30,880 | $26,992 | $29,782 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,920 | $26,221 | $28,931 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,830 | $26,148 | $28,852 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in South Dakota cities
Half of South Dakota’s 457,380 workers earn less than $47,080 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,030–$64,020 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Sioux City, IA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Rapid City, SD is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $47,970 | 90.6 | $978 | 29% | $2,416 | $44,934 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 28% | $2,406 | $46,231 |
| Rapid City, SD | $46,270 | 89.2 | $1,001 | 31% | $2,279 | $44,143 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Sioux Falls, SD vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 90.6 | $978 | $47,970 | 178,590 |
| Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | $847 | $41,780 | 179,570 |
| Anchorage, AK | 105.4 | $1,190 | $60,200 | 177,050 |
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | $48,550 | 180,450 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,429 | $46,870 | 180,620 |
| Reading, PA | 97.1 | $1,237 | $49,440 | 174,670 |
| Lincoln, NE | 91.6 | $917 | $49,800 | 182,620 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sioux Falls, SD expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area are 90.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 77.6%. It is the #277 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Sioux Falls, SD?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,379 in Sioux Falls, SD (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,970.
Can you afford Sioux Falls, SD on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,970 median wage takes home about $3,394 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $978 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Sioux Falls, SD?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Sioux Falls, SD are $860 for a studio, $978 for one bedroom, $1,150 for two bedrooms and $1,578 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Sioux Falls, SD
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,920
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $75,350
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $39,190
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,830
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $34,600
- Cashier — $30,880
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,910
- Customer Service Representative — $43,850
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $38,560
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,820
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,650