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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in South Dakota beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Sioux Falls stands out at 74 on the index, with rent of $1,265/month — we had to double-check this one — and household income of $74,714. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
#1 Ranked: Sioux Falls — cost index 74, rent $1,265/mo, income $74,714
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Sioux Falls | 0% | 6.1% | 1.08% | $109,483 |
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in South Dakota beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Sioux Falls stands out at 74 on the index, with rent of $1,265/month — we had to double-check this one — and household income of $74,714. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
Here's Sioux Falls by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 74. Rent: $1,265/month. Income: $74,714/year. Home price: $326,187. Population: 206,410. The strongest category is Housing at 74; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,560 per year vs. the national median. That's a difference you notice every single month. I'll say what the data can't: this city punches above its weight in ways that don't show up in a spreadsheet. There's a reason people who move here tend to stay. You can call it quality of life, you can call it vibes, whatever — the point is, the cost structure gives people room to actually enjoy where they live, and that's increasingly rare in this country.
Real talk: on a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Sioux Falls ($1,265/mo, 10%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $109,483 to $109,483/year across these top picks.
Now, the part that complicates the narrative: The 1 cities we track in South Dakota paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 74. Median rent: $1,265/month. Household income: $74,714. South Dakota is known for no income tax and Great Plains affordability — and the data backs that reputation convincingly (a figure that keeps climbing, by the way).
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 (your mileage may vary — literally).
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $1,265 | 10% | 74 | Details |
206,410 residents · South Dakota
Dive into Sioux Falls's numbers: cost index 74 (37 points below national average), rent $1,265/month, income $74,714, and a home price of $326,187. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 74, while Healthcare runs 95. With 206,410 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
We model what a $150K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 74 and median income of $74,714.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Sioux Falls, rent would consume about 10% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
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 $150K in Sioux Falls is approximately $109,483/year ($9,124/month). After median rent of $1,265/month, you'd have roughly $94,303/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.