Median rent is 28% lower in Sioux Falls ($993/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Sioux Falls, where the median home runs $271,400 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Chicago ($75,134 vs $74,714 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Sioux Falls, SD
How much would you need to earn in Sioux Falls, SD to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Sioux Falls — median rent of $993/mo versus $1,380/mo in Chicago, a 28% difference. Median home values are within 14% of each other: $315,200 in Chicago and $271,400 in Sioux Falls.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
South Dakota has no state income tax, while Illinois tops out at 4.95% — giving Sioux Falls a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 4.20% in South Dakota; Sioux Falls has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Sioux Falls
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 4.20%
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 21.0 AQI (Good) compared to 23.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Sioux Falls if you prioritize cheaper rent ($993/mo median).
Pick Sioux Falls if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Chicago cheaper than Sioux Falls?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Sioux Falls?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $993/mo in Sioux Falls, SD. Sioux Falls, SD has the lower rent by about 28%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Sioux Falls?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD. Chicago, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 21.0 AQI versus 23.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Sioux Falls?
South Dakota has no state income tax. Illinois has a top rate of 4.95%.
What salary do I need in Sioux Falls to match my Chicago income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology