Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sioux Falls, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Sioux Falls, SD: $2,114 a month against $3,800 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

185

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
103

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

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,800

/mo nomad

Sioux Falls, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,114

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA and in Sioux Falls, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,800 in Seattle, WA versus $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Seattle, WA $3,800
Sioux Falls, SD $2,114

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,702 in Seattle, WA versus $3,124 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Seattle, WA $5,702
Sioux Falls, SD $3,124

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,603 in Seattle, WA versus $4,133 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Seattle, WA $7,603
Sioux Falls, SD $4,133

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 80% more expensive than in Sioux Falls, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Sioux Falls, SD 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$11.88 $11.88

113.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.3 $75.3

34.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.08 $10.08

47.32%

Cappuccino

$6.59 $6.59

$4.24 $4.24

55.42%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.73 $2.73

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.86 $1.86

68.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$4.01 $4.01

103.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$6.52 $6.52

23.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.82 $0.82

47.56%

White Bread (500g)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.83 $2.83

80.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.75 $4.75

32.63%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$3.48 $3.48

40.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.10 $19.10

$12.53 $12.53

52.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.50 $18.50

$9.49 $9.49

94.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.03 $23.03

$15.56 $15.56

48.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$4.56 $4.56

27.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.56 $1.56

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.63 $3.63

45.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$3.50 $3.50

85.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.13 $2.13

67.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.29 $3.29

-4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.15 $2.15

32.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.75 $12.75

$9.66 $9.66

31.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$10.83 $10.83

38.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.26 $2.26

84.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 $5.99

$2.55 $2.55

134.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.46 $1.46

108.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$30.47 $30.47

261.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.77 $3.77

-32.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.67 $1.67

-1.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.58 $29.58

$34.91 $34.91

-15.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.04 $1.04

36.54%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$35.2K $35.2K

1.60%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.8K $24.8K

3.14%

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

$299 $299

$251 $251

19.32%

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

$70.8 $70.8

$46.46 $46.46

52.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.3 $88.3

$55.9 $55.9

58.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 $79.5

$44.46 $44.46

78.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.37 $35.37

$34.80 $34.80

1.64%

Cinema Ticket

$17.12 $17.12

$12.59 $12.59

35.98%

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

$3,013 $3,013

$1,019 $1,019

195.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$7,667 $7,667

312.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 $77.2

$32.74 $32.74

135.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$29.87 $29.87

84.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$121 $121

3.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 $163

$136 $136

19.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,464 $2,464

$1,365 $1,365

80.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 $1,956

$926 $926

111.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,711 $4,711

$2,033 $2,033

131.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,550 $3,550

$1,519 $1,519

133.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,346 $7,346

$2,511 $2,511

192.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,048 $5,048

$2,193 $2,193

130.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,286 $6,286

$4,306 $4,306

45.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

6.87

-0.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 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

Seattle, WA

$2K 51.5%

Sioux Falls, SD

$926 43.8% 52.7% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$542 14.3%

Sioux Falls, SD

$345 16.3% 36.2% $196

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$458 12.1%

Sioux Falls, SD

$353 16.7% 23% $105

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$409 10.8%

Sioux Falls, SD

$228 10.8% 44.3% $181

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Sioux Falls, SD

$144 6.8% 23.9% $45

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$133 3.5%

Sioux Falls, SD

$48 2.3% 63.6% $85

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$114 3%

Sioux Falls, SD

$70 3.3% 38.8% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,464 in Seattle, WA and $1,365 in Sioux Falls, SD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $345 per month, with Sioux Falls, SD cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Sioux Falls, SD

🕒 Local time

09:46 9:46 AM

11:46 11:46 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

192,517

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Sioux Falls, SD 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

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Seattle, WA
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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

Seattle, WA vs Sioux Falls, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,464 in Seattle, WA versus $1,365 in Sioux Falls, SD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sioux Falls, SD – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,800 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,114 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sioux Falls, SD but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Sioux Falls, SD the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sioux Falls, SD is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Sioux Falls, SD are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sioux Falls, SD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.