CostIndexUSA

Olympia, WA vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Sioux City is significantly cheaper than Olympia — 16.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Olympia, you would need $66,700 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing50.5%
Olympia
116.7
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries10.5%
Olympia
105
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation6.7%
Olympia
104.4
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare6.8%
Olympia
94.5
Sioux City
88.1
Utilities9.8%
Olympia
91.7
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$66,700
$13,300 less needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 103.7) = salary × 0.8341. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Sioux City, IA

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

Olympia has 50.5% lower housing costs compared to Sioux City.

Income & Job Market

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

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).

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.