Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Sioux City, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Sioux City, IA: $2,173 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $33,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Sioux City, IA, United States
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Sioux City, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,173
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Sioux City, IA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Sioux City, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,941 per month in New York, NY vs $2,173 in Sioux City, IA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,941
  • Sioux City, IA $2,173

A couple spends around $7,225 per month in New York, NY vs $3,286 in Sioux City, IA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,225
  • Sioux City, IA $3,286

A family of three spends $9,509 per month in New York, NY vs $4,398 in Sioux City, IA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,509
  • Sioux City, IA $4,398

New York, NY costs about 127% more than Sioux City, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Sioux City, IA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 263%, Sioux City, IA by 60%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55 $28.55
$20.24 $20.24
41.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$54.9 $54.9
115.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$10.43 $10.43
44.20%
Cappuccino
$6.53 $6.53
$6.15 $6.15
6.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.19 $2.19
80.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.72 $1.72
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$4.87 $4.87
67.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$5.73 $5.73
71.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.87 $0.87
57.47%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.88 $2.88
72.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$3.40 $3.40
129.71%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$3.52 $3.52
69.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$7.97 $7.97
137.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.04 $18.04
$7.84 $7.84
130.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$16.86 $16.86
12.99%
Apples (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$4.66 $4.66
45.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.53 $1.53
48.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.83 $6.83
$4.02 $4.02
69.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$4.17 $4.17
70.02%
Potato (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.91 $1.91
120.94%
Onion (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$4.71 $4.71
-1.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.34 $2.34
22.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.13 $2.13
22.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77 $18.77
$9.22 $9.22
103.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.13 $20.13
$14.72 $14.72
36.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.76 $1.76
96.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.99 $2.99
34.45%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.77 $1.77
64.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$48.59 $48.59
185.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.04 $2.04
50.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.21 $1.21
75.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.96 $41.96
$19.99 $19.99
109.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.86 $0.86
36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
31.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$25.6K $25.6K
1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$167 $167
31.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.2 $74.2
$52.3 $52.3
42.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$69.8 $69.8
0.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$101 $101
10.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.9 $74.9
$20.21 $20.21
270.41%
Cinema Ticket
$22.14 $22.14
$9.88 $9.88
124.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,558 $3,558
$1,063 $1,063
234.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$62.2K $62.2K
$12.0K $12.0K
417.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6 $75.6
$42.83 $42.83
76.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$21.14 $21.14
142.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$79.0 $79.0
55.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$88.8 $88.8
57.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,499 $4,499
$944 $944
376.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,078 $3,078
$934 $934
229.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,447 $9,447
$1,478 $1,478
538.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,190 $5,190
$1,722 $1,722
201.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.1K $18.1K
$1,622 $1,622
1016.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,693 $6,693
$1,604 $1,604
317.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,220 $5,220
$3,696 $3,696
41.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
6.57
4.41%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sioux City, IA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Sioux City, IA
$934 69.7% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$563
Sioux City, IA
$342 39.2% $221
Eating Out
New York, NY
$440
Sioux City, IA
$319 27.6% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Sioux City, IA
$289 20.6% $75
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$175
Sioux City, IA
$104 40.5% $71
Getting Around
New York, NY
$164
Sioux City, IA
$64 61.2% $101
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$156
Sioux City, IA
$121 22.7% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,499 in New York, NY versus $944 in Sioux City, IA. 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 41% higher in New York, NY, 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 $118 in New York, NY versus $55 in Sioux City, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $563 vs $342 – making Sioux City, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Sioux City, IA
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
15:24 3:24 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
85,797
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Sioux City, IA 1,850 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Sioux City, IA

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
New York, NY vs Sioux City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Sioux City, IA?
New York, NY costs about 127% more than Sioux City, IA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Sioux City, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,412 per month in New York, NY and $3,259 in Sioux City, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Sioux City, IA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sioux City, IA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $944 there versus $4,499 in New York, NY.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Sioux City, IA?
Kindergarten costs $3,558 per month in New York, NY and $1,063 in Sioux City, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in New York, NY or in Sioux City, IA?
Groceries cost about 64% more in New York, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $3,000/month in New York, NY or in Sioux City, IA?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sioux City, IA, where all-in costs run around $2,173, than in New York, NY at $4,941. In Sioux City, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sioux City, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to New York, NY or to Sioux City, IA?
If budget matters most, go with Sioux City, IA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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