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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Data: HUD rent estimates, BLS cost of living

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You'd spend $1.4K/month more in Madison, WI

$150.0K in your current city equals $167.3K in Madison, WI

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from area
Overall Cost
โ†‘ 19.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,440
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$17.3K
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Sioux Falls, SD

Population:206K
Cost Index:
100
100 = national average
Median Home:$280K

Madison, WI

Population:270K
Cost Index:
119
(19% above avg)
Median Home:$427K

Sioux Falls, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

206K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 206K residents.

๐Ÿ’ก Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Madison, WI

The Badger State

270K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 270K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Sioux Falls, SD vs Madison, WI

Housing
โ†‘ 50.2%
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,834
Madison, WI
$2,755
Difference
$921
more
Other
โ†‘ 14.0%
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,572
Madison, WI
$1,791
Difference
$219
more
Transportation
โ†‘ 16.9%
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,203
Madison, WI
$1,407
Difference
$204
more
Healthcare
โ†‘ 7.2%
Sioux Falls, SD
$671
Madison, WI
$719
Difference
$48.18
more
All Utilities
โ†‘ 9.9%
Sioux Falls, SD
$462
Madison, WI
$508
Difference
$45.84
more
Groceries
โ†‘ 2.7%
Sioux Falls, SD
$934
Madison, WI
$959
Difference
$25.32
more

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$683
To$1,370
โ†‘ $687
1 Bed
From$782
To$1,605
โ†‘ $823
2 Bed
From$913
To$1,835
โ†‘ $922
3 Bed
From$1,251
To$2,425
โ†‘ $1,174
Sioux Falls, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $880โ€“$1,060/mo

Madison, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,360โ€“$1,840/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,676
Monthly in Sioux Falls, SD
$8,139
Monthly in Madison, WI
$1,463
Difference

Home Values

Sioux Falls
Madison
$280K
Median Value
$427K
โ†‘ +0.5%
YoY Change
โ†‘ +2.3%
โ†‘ +35.6%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +37.4%
$216K - $323K
Price Range
$359K - $534K

Homes in Madison are 53% more expensive than Sioux Falls

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†“ $8.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$737
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.9%
Rate difference

Sioux Falls, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Madison, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Sioux Falls, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
Property Tax:1.3%

Madison, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Sioux Falls
Madison
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
72.1%
96 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒช๐Ÿ’จ
โ–ฒ+3.4ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.4ยฐF
35 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
10 days
โ–ฒ+3.4ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.4ยฐF
35 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
10 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between South Dakota and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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