Quick answer
St. Louis costs $10/month less overall ($1,580 vs $1,590/mo). But Sioux Falls's None state income tax erases some of that gap — on an $80K salary, the tax difference is $3,960/year.
City Comparison · 2026
Sioux Falls vs St. Louis
Side-by-side on rent, home prices, taxes, walkability, jobs, and climate — with a straight verdict for each type of mover.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Sioux Falls vs St. Louis at a Glance
| Metric | Sioux Falls | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Monthly Rent | $1,150 | $1,380 ✓ |
| 2BR Monthly Rent | $1,450 | $1,380 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $410K | $215K ✓ |
| Avg Utilities/mo | $130 ✓ | $145 |
| Avg Groceries/mo | $310 ✓ | $335 |
| Monthly Cost (1BR) | $1,590 | $1,580 ✓ |
| Walk Score | 60/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Transit Score | 30/100 | 38/100 ✓ |
| State Income Tax | None ✓ | Up to 4.95% |
Monthly cost = 1BR rent + utilities + groceries for one person. ✓ marks the lower/better value.
Cost of Living: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Rent gap: St. Louis's 1BR averages $1,100/month vs $1,150 in Sioux Falls — a $50/month difference, or $600/year. That's close enough that neighborhood choice within each city matters more than the city-level average.
State tax: Sioux Falls charges None state income tax vs Up to 4.95% in St. Louis. On an $80K salary that's a $3,960/year difference. On $120K, the gap grows to $5,940 vs $0 — important context if you're choosing between tech job offers.
Home buying: Median homes in St. Louis are $215K vs $410K in Sioux Falls. At a 20% down payment, that's a $39,000 difference in upfront cash — significant at early-career savings rates.
Utilities: St. Louis utilities run $15 more per month than Sioux Falls.
Walkability, Transit & Daily Life
Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls's walkability means you can genuinely live without a car in the right neighborhoods.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis is partially walkable in denser neighborhoods but car-dependent in most areas.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
Climate
Sioux Falls
Cold continental with brutally cold winters (-10°F average, 40+ inches snow), short warm summers (80°F), and extreme weather variability. Spring brings severe thunderstorms and hail.
St. Louis
Four seasons; hot humid summers, cold winters with ice storms, severe thunderstorm season
Job Market
Sioux Falls top industries
St. Louis top industries
Who Should Pick Which City
Move to Sioux Falls if…
- →You're a Banking and finance professionals
- →You're a Healthcare workers
- →You're a Families with young children
- →You're a Remote workers seeking low costs and stability
- →You want zero state income tax
Move to St. Louis if…
- →You're a healthcare workers
- →You're a remote workers
- →You're a value-seekers
- →You're a manufacturing professionals
- →You're buying a home and want more for your money
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sioux Falls or St. Louis cheaper to live in?
St. Louis is cheaper overall. Monthly costs (1BR rent + utilities + groceries) run $1,580 in St. Louis vs $1,590 in Sioux Falls — a $10/month difference.
Which city is more walkable — Sioux Falls or St. Louis?
Sioux Falls is more walkable with a Walk Score of 60/100 vs 52/100. St. Louis is more car-dependent.
Sioux Falls vs St. Louis: which has lower state income tax?
Sioux Falls has lower state income tax (None). On an $80K salary, that saves $3,960/year vs St. Louis (Up to 4.95%).
Is Sioux Falls or St. Louis better for buying a home?
St. Louis has lower median home prices at $215K vs $410K in Sioux Falls — a $195,000 difference on the median home.