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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
South Dakota is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Sioux Falls leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,265/month — 33% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
South Dakota is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Sioux Falls leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,265/month — 33% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Look, What does daily life actually cost in Sioux Falls? Start with the 20% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 88) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $74,714 and homes at $326,187 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
On a $50K salary, the key number is $1,250/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Sioux Falls ($1,265/mo, 30%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $40,122 to $40,122/year across these top picks.
And there's one more thing: State context matters: South Dakota's 1 cities average a 95 cost index with $1,265/month median rent and $74,714 household income. No income tax and Great Plains affordability. The methodology section explains how we weighted each factor — it matters.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Sioux Falls — cost index 95, rent $1,265/mo, income $74,714
0 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $1,265 | 30% | 95 | Details |
206,410 residents · South Dakota
What does daily life actually cost in Sioux Falls? Start with the 20% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 88) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $74,714 and homes at $326,187 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons. Below the radar, but not for long.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Sioux Falls | 0% | 6.1% | 1.08% | $40,122 |
We calculate what percentage of a $50K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Sioux Falls ranks #1 in South Dakota for this analysis with a cost index of 95 and median income of $74,714.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Sioux Falls, rent would consume about 30% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Sioux Falls is $1,265/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $630 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $50K in Sioux Falls is approximately $40,122/year ($3,344/month). After median rent of $1,265/month, you'd have roughly $24,942/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Sioux Falls is $326,187, which is 4.4× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
South Dakota has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.1%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.08%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.