CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Sioux City is slightly cheaper than El Paso — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $77,000 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.8%
El Paso
71.2
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
El Paso
93.8
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation3.7%
El Paso
101.1
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare3.6%
El Paso
91.4
Sioux City
88.1
Utilities≈ Equal
El Paso
82.6
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 0.9622. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Sioux City, IA

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

El Paso has 18.8% lower housing costs compared to Sioux City.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

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).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.