Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

103

Cost of Living Index in Sioux Falls, SD
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Sioux Falls, SD Living Index
185

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

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Sioux Falls, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,114

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,800

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sioux Falls, SD and in Seattle, WA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Living in Sioux Falls, SD costs roughly 44% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 $11.88

$25.32 $25.32

-53.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$101 $101

-25.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$14.85 $14.85

-32.12%

Cappuccino

$4.24 $4.24

$6.59 $6.59

-35.66%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.22 $3.22

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.14 $3.14

-40.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.01 $4.01

$8.18 $8.18

-50.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$8.03 $8.03

-18.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.21 $1.21

-32.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.83 $2.83

$5.12 $5.12

-44.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$6.30 $6.30

-24.60%

Eggs

$3.48 $3.48

$4.90 $4.90

-28.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 $12.53

$19.10 $19.10

-34.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$18.50 $18.50

-48.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.56 $15.56

$23.03 $23.03

-32.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.81 $5.81

-21.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.95 $1.95

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$5.29 $5.29

-31.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$6.48 $6.48

-45.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.57 $3.57

-40.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.15 $3.15

4.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.85 $2.85

-24.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.42 $2.42

-29.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.66 $9.66

$12.75 $12.75

-24.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 $10.83

$14.99 $14.99

-27.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.17 $4.17

-45.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$5.99 $5.99

-57.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.04 $3.04

-51.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.47 $30.47

$110 $110

-72.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.55 $2.55

47.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.64 $1.64

1.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.91 $34.91

$29.58 $29.58

18.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.42 $1.42

-26.76%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.7K $35.7K

-1.57%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

-3.04%

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

$251 $251

$299 $299

-16.19%

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

$46.46 $46.46

$70.8 $70.8

-34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 $55.9

$88.3 $88.3

-36.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.46 $44.46

$79.5 $79.5

-44.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.80 $34.80

$35.37 $35.37

-1.61%

Cinema Ticket

$12.59 $12.59

$17.12 $17.12

-26.46%

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

$1,019 $1,019

$3,013 $3,013

-66.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 $7,667

$31.6K $31.6K

-75.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 $32.74

$77.2 $77.2

-57.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 $29.87

$55.1 $55.1

-45.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$126 $126

-3.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$163 $163

-16.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$2,464 $2,464

-44.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$926 $926

$1,956 $1,956

-52.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,033 $2,033

$4,711 $4,711

-56.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 $1,519

$3,550 $3,550

-57.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 $2,511

$7,346 $7,346

-65.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,193 $2,193

$5,048 $5,048

-56.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$6,286 $6,286

-31.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

6.85

0.29%

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

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Sioux Falls, SD

$926 43.8%

Seattle, WA

$2K 51.5% 111% $1K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Sioux Falls, SD

$353 16.7%

Seattle, WA

$458 12.1% 29.8% $105

Groceries & Markets

Sioux Falls, SD

$345 16.3%

Seattle, WA

$542 14.3% 56.8% $196

Eating Out

Sioux Falls, SD

$228 10.8%

Seattle, WA

$409 10.8% 79.5% $181

Clothing & Footwear

Sioux Falls, SD

$144 6.8%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 31.4% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Sioux Falls, SD

$70 3.3%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 63.3% $44

Getting Around

Sioux Falls, SD

$48 2.3%

Seattle, WA

$133 3.5% 175% $85

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,365 in Sioux Falls, SD and $2,464 in Seattle, WA. 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: $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $542 per month, with Sioux Falls, SD cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Sioux Falls, SD

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

11:17 11:17 AM

09:17 9:17 AM

2 h behind Sioux Falls, SD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

192,517

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

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

From you

Sioux Falls, SD
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Sioux Falls, SD vs Seattle, WA: 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.

On paper, salaries run 46% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,365 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $2,464 in Seattle, WA. 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 $2,114 per month in Sioux Falls, SD versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA – 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, Sioux Falls, SD and Seattle, WA 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.