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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,278 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,441 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 45% more than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Sioux Falls, SD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Sioux Falls, SD by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$12.57 $12.57

66.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$67.8 $67.8

44.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.04 $10.04

18.13%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.11 $5.11

9.59%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.92 $2.92

5.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.86 $1.86

32.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.84 $5.84

22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.37 $6.37

26.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.93 $0.93

12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.69 $3.69

11.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.14 $6.14

-8.63%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.26 $4.26

5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.68 $12.68

12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.62 $11.62

28.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.11 $14.11

36.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.29 $5.29

-2.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.88 $1.88

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.35 $4.35

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.49 $6.49

-29.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.46 $2.46

3.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.67 $3.67

-25.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.01 $2.01

20.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.31 $2.31

13.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.94 $8.94

66.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.79 $14.79

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.02 $2.02

21.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.05 $3.05

22.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.54 $1.54

61.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$30.22 $30.22

149.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.72 $3.72

-14.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.73 $1.73

-17.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.34 $29.34

-15.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.83 $0.83

27.71%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.5K $29.5K

8.30%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.59%

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

$185 $185

$205 $205

-10.01%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$44.53 $44.53

38.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.0 $67.0

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$44.62 $44.62

68.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$39.65 $39.65

-67.01%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$11.24 $11.24

30.87%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$727 $727

178.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$7,916 $7,916

397.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$42.40 $42.40

52.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$28.19 $28.19

86.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$116 $116

-15.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$121 $121

22.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,287 $1,287

79.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$924 $924

72.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,216 $2,216

108.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,709 $1,709

62.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,458 $2,458

59.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,198 $2,198

18.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,231 $4,231

23.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.65

-0.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sioux Falls, SD: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,287 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 23% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $68.0 in Sioux Falls, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $410 – making Sioux Falls, SD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD – roughly 45% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,173 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 9% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $68.0 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 $2,115, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. 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 $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD to $3,077 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.