CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Sioux Falls, SD Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableSD
Sioux Falls
90.6
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Sioux Falls is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 10.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $71,800 in Sioux Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing35.2%
Charleston
119.8
Sioux Falls
77.6
🛒 Groceries0.8%
Charleston
96.3
Sioux Falls
95.5
🚗 Transportation6.5%
Charleston
103.2
Sioux Falls
96.5
🏥 Healthcare6.5%
Charleston
93.4
Sioux Falls
87.3
Utilities8.5%
Charleston
88.2
Sioux Falls
80.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux Falls, SD
$71,800
$8,200 less needed in Sioux Falls

Formula: salary × (90.6 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.8970. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Home Price
$329,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,225
Housing Index
77.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.4×

Charleston has 35.2% lower housing costs compared to Sioux Falls.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Household Income
$76,200
Per Capita Income
$43,400
Unemployment Rate
2%
Population
192,517
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareRetailManufacturingAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Sioux Falls, SD
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.