Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sioux Falls, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Sioux Falls, SD: $2,114 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
103

Cost of Living Index in Sioux Falls, SD
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Sioux Falls, SD Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Sioux Falls, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,114

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Sioux Falls, SD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Sioux Falls, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,185 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,185
Sioux Falls, SD $2,114

A couple spends around $4,631 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,124 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,631
Sioux Falls, SD $3,124

A family of three spends $6,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,133 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,077
Sioux Falls, SD $4,133

Chicago, IL costs about 51% more than Sioux Falls, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Sioux Falls, SD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 136%, Sioux Falls, SD by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.58 $21.58

$11.88 $11.88

81.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$75.3 $75.3

17.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.20 $13.20

$10.08 $10.08

30.95%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$4.24 $4.24

31.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.73 $2.73

-3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.86 $1.86

21.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$4.01 $4.01

77.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 $9.23

$6.52 $6.52

41.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.82 $0.82

56.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.83 $2.83

35.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.75 $4.75

6.74%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$3.48 $3.48

39.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$12.53 $12.53

13.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.49 $9.49

53.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.76 $18.76

$15.56 $15.56

20.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.56 $4.56

13.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.56 $1.56

28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.63 $3.63

10.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.50 $3.50

42.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.13 $2.13

30.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.29 $3.29

-19.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.15 $2.15

-0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.71 $1.71

80.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.05 $16.05

$9.66 $9.66

66.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$10.83 $10.83

40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.26 $2.26

15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.55 $2.55

35.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.46 $1.46

69.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

$30.47 $30.47

146.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.77 $3.77

-14.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.67 $1.67

-16.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 $25.02

$34.91 $34.91

-28.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.04 $1.04

19.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K $37.2K

$35.2K $35.2K

5.67%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K $25.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$192 $192

$251 $251

-23.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$46.46 $46.46

45.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$55.9 $55.9

8.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

$44.46 $44.46

20.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

$34.80 $34.80

-19.83%

Cinema Ticket

$17.80 $17.80

$12.59 $12.59

41.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,554 $1,554

$1,019 $1,019

52.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K $31.4K

$7,667 $7,667

309.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.9 $67.9

$32.74 $32.74

107.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$29.87 $29.87

69.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$121 $121

-16.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$136 $136

5.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,383 $2,383

$1,365 $1,365

74.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 $1,712

$926 $926

84.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,674 $4,674

$2,033 $2,033

129.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$1,519 $1,519

80.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,158 $4,158

$2,511 $2,511

65.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,691 $2,691

$2,193 $2,193

22.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,894 $4,894

$4,306 $4,306

13.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.77

6.87

-1.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Sioux Falls, SD: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8%

Sioux Falls, SD

$926 43.8% 45.9% $786

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2%

Sioux Falls, SD

$345 16.3% 23.4% $106

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1%

Sioux Falls, SD

$228 10.8% 35.5% $125

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1%

Sioux Falls, SD

$353 16.7% 9.9% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1%

Sioux Falls, SD

$144 6.8% 11.9% $19

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Sioux Falls, SD

$48 2.3% 49.1% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8%

Sioux Falls, SD

$70 3.3% 21.9% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,383 in Chicago, IL versus $1,365 in Sioux Falls, SD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $345 – making Sioux Falls, SD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Sioux Falls, SD

🕒 Local time

11:46 11:46 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

192,517

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Sioux Falls, SD 770 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Sioux Falls, SD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Sioux Falls, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,185 in Chicago, IL, $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD – roughly 51% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,777 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,171 in Sioux Falls, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sioux Falls, SD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Sioux Falls, SD, where all-in costs run around $2,114, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In Sioux Falls, SD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sioux Falls, SD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.