What is the cost of living in Sioux City, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sioux City has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Sioux City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Sioux City ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Sioux City ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Sioux City, check out:
Sioux City Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sioux City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sioux City is 97.
The Groceries index in Sioux City is 99.
The Health index in Sioux City is 75.
The Housing index in Sioux City is 96.
The Transportation index in Sioux City is 92.
The Utilities index in Sioux City is 91.
| Living Expense | Sioux City | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 94 | 100 |
Sioux City Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Sioux City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sioux City, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Sioux City is $196,299.
The Median Rent in Sioux City is $976.
The Median Income in Sioux City is $68,906.
The Home Value To Income in Sioux City is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sioux City is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Sioux City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $196,299 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $976 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,906 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Sioux City, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Sioux City Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Sioux City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.36 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.32 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Sioux City Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Sioux City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.63 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.33 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Sioux City Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Sioux City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.21 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sioux City Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Sioux City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.42 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sioux City Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Sioux City | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.04 | $192.25 |
