CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Sioux City is moderately cheaper than Austin — 11.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $70,500 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing52.0%
Austin
120.4
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Austin
93.8
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation3.7%
Austin
101.1
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare3.6%
Austin
91.4
Sioux City
88.1
Utilities+0.9%
Austin
82
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Sioux City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$70,500
$9,500 less needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.8818. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Sioux City, IA

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
57.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Austin has 52.0% lower housing costs compared to Sioux City.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Sioux City, IA

Median Household Income
$70,700
Per Capita Income
$40,300
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
82,684
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingAgricultureRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Sioux City, IA
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.