Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is about 22% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 78 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,265 a month, 35% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.90 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 35% of the area's $76,074 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.90
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,265
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$11.25
Combo meal
Electricity
15.15¢
per kWh · ~$136/mo
Car Insurance
$148/mo
$1,780/yr
Median Household Income
$76,074
35.2% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,780 in Sioux Falls. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Sioux Falls residents actually pay.
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,265/mo in Sioux Falls. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.10 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$4.76 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.55 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.51 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$5.59 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.32 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.57 | $5.10 | +42.9% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.19 | $4.76 | +13.6% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.17 | $7.55 | +46.0% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.68 | $4.51 | +22.6% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.29 | $5.59 | +30.3% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $8.32 | +50.2% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$11.25
Casual Dining
$17.40
Monthly Spend
$279.41
+3.46% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $6.29
$10.14
+61.2%Wendy's
2022: $7.10
$10.95
+54.2%Chipotle
2022: $7.61
$11.36
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $3.37
$4.68
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Sioux Falls?
Average 1BR: $1,037/mo · 2BR: $1,493/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
139k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,252
$65k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$76k
household median
Employment by Sector — Sioux Falls
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$56k/yr
~$75k/yr
~$25k/yr
~$85k/yr
~$61k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 46099
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$1,757/wk · $91k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$483/wk · $25k/yr
Sioux Falls Cost of Living FAQ
Is Sioux Falls, SD expensive to live in?
Sioux Falls has a cost of living index of 78, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 22% cheaper than average. It is the 2nd most affordable of the 3 South Dakota cities we track.
What is the average rent in Sioux Falls, SD?
Typical rent in Sioux Falls is $1,265 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 35% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,037 and two bedrooms about $1,493. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Sioux Falls?
Rent in Sioux Falls rose 3.8% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Sioux Falls?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.90 a gallon in Sioux Falls as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for South Dakota. That is 2% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Sioux Falls?
Homes in South Dakota pay an average of 15.2 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Sioux Falls is about $136.
How much is car insurance in Sioux Falls?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,780 a year in South Dakota, or about $148 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Sioux Falls?
Median household income in the Sioux Falls area is $76,074 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $26,783 a year, or 35% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Sioux Falls compare with the rest of South Dakota?
Rent in Sioux Falls is 5% below the $1,332 average across the 3 South Dakota cities we track, and its cost of living index of 78 compares with a state average of 78.
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