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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,278 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,441 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 70% more expensive than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Sioux Falls, SD 58% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$12.57 $12.57

97.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$67.8 $67.8

73.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.04 $10.04

37.15%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.11 $5.11

11.74%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.92 $2.92

4.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.86 $1.86

34.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.84 $5.84

34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.37 $6.37

23.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.93 $0.93

45.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.69 $3.69

37.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.14 $6.14

-12.21%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.26 $4.26

60.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.68 $12.68

97.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.62 $11.62

36.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.11 $14.11

45.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.29 $5.29

16.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.88 $1.88

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.35 $4.35

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.49 $6.49

3.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.46 $2.46

28.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.67 $3.67

4.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.31 $2.31

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.94 $8.94

30.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.79 $14.79

6.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.02 $2.02

45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.05 $3.05

39.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.54 $1.54

83.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$30.22 $30.22

231.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.72 $3.72

-30.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.34 $29.34

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.83 $0.83

43.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.98%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.90%

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

$263 $263

$205 $205

27.75%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$44.53 $44.53

36.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.0 $67.0

13.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$44.62 $44.62

78.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$39.65 $39.65

0.61%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$11.24 $11.24

44.75%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$727 $727

213.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$7,916 $7,916

270.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$42.40 $42.40

61.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$28.19 $28.19

84.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

-0.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$121 $121

18.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,287 $1,287

81.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$924 $924

101.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,216 $2,216

108.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,709 $1,709

103.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,458 $2,458

215.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,198 $2,198

138.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,231 $4,231

56.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.65

-3.46%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,287 in Sioux Falls, SD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 56% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $68.0 in Sioux Falls, SD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $410 per month, with Sioux Falls, SD cheaper across the board.

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 & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 56% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,287 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 $68.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,115 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $3,598 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 70% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.