Relocation profile · Federal data
Sioux Falls, SD-MN
LiveAbility 63.2/100 places Sioux Falls #26 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 90.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $973
- 2BR rent / mo
- $63,923
- Median salary
- 63.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Sioux Falls ranks #26 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (63.2/100), with its strongest marks in housing and air quality.
- #26
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 924,669
- metro-area population
- 320
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 698
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (20/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Sioux Falls ranks #26 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $973/mo, median salary $63,923; LiveAbility Score 63.2/100, strongest in housing and air quality.
Signature: LiveAbility 63.2/100 places Sioux Falls #26 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.6 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $973/mo.
LiveAbility 63.2/100 puts Sioux Falls in the top third (#26 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Sioux Falls area is 169,190.
Sioux Falls vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
63 Top 7% higher than 93% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Sioux Falls housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Sioux Falls MSA; housing RPP 77.6 (100 = national average); 2BR $973/mo.
Sioux Falls wages and employment
Sioux Falls posts 169,190 total employment with median salary $63,923 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $75,350 |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,600 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,830 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,650 |
| Cashiers | $30,880 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Sioux Falls area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Sioux Falls area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Sioux Falls's composite Life Score is 62.5/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Sioux Falls ranks #26 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 63.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Sioux Falls - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
95 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
93 /100
- Schools
Schools
82 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
72 /100
- Safety
Safety
48 /100
- Job market
Job market
44 /100
- Climate 34
Climate
34 /100
- Low hazard 20
Low hazard
20 /100
What this shows Sioux Falls's strongest dimensions are housing and air quality; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 20/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Sioux Falls to
Metros near Sioux Falls on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Sioux Falls on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Similar LiveAbility score
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Sioux Falls cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Sioux Falls wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls runs a $63,923 median salary at a 90.6 cost index, ranking #26 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Sioux Falls's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Sioux Falls head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Sioux Falls
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.