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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 74 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.
#1 Ranked: Sioux Falls — cost index 74, rent $1,265/mo, income $74,714
0 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K 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% | $24,337 |
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 74 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.
Why Sioux Falls ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 74 on the cost index, residents save roughly 37% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,265/month while the median household pulls in $74,714/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 74, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $326,187 — $141,183 below the national median.
(Tangentially — this is the kind of city where you can actually build equity on a median salary, which is increasingly rare.)
Bottom line: Sioux Falls leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $1,265 | 51% | 74 | 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, Housing (index 74) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) 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. Not even close to the national average.
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 $30K salary in Sioux Falls, rent would consume about 51% 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 $30K in Sioux Falls is approximately $24,337/year ($2,028/month). After median rent of $1,265/month, you'd have roughly $9,157/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.