Question 1

Is Chicago or Sioux Falls cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $572/month less than in Chicago, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,781/mo in Chicago versus $1,156/mo in Sioux Falls.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Chicago vs Sioux Falls?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $77,500/year before tax in Chicago, IL and $61,000/year in Sioux Falls, SD — a difference of about $16,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Chicago or Sioux Falls cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Sioux Falls, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,504/month in Chicago and $6,927/month in Sioux Falls, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Chicago or Sioux Falls?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Sioux Falls costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Chicago62	Sioux Falls69
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,110	$3,538
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,504	$6,927
Salary for comfort	$77,500/yr	$61,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,781	$1,156
Median home value	$315,200	$271,400
Median household income	$75,134	$74,714
Unemployment	5.4%	1.8%
Housing score	54	84
Jobs score	7	77
Safety score	66	53
Climate score	92	64
Amenities score	73	20
Population	2.7M	197.6K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	84° / 7°

Chicago, IL vs Sioux Falls, SD