Topeka, KS vs Sioux City, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sioux City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% lower than Topeka, KS.

Topeka, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month
Sioux City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,135 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Topeka, KS and Sioux City, IA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $81.43/month in Sioux City, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,023 in Sioux City, IA

Regional cost estimates: Topeka, KS uses Kansas City, MO. Sioux City, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$81.43
Savings
Annual Impact
$977
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Topeka, KS

Population:125K
Cost Index:
88.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$151K

Sioux City, IA

Population:86K
Cost Index:
87.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$179K

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Topeka, KS

The Sunflower State

125K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 125K residents.

Sioux City, IA

The Hawkeye State

86K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 86K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Topeka, KS vs Sioux City, IA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

All Utilities
↓ 13.2%
Topeka, KS
$594
Sioux City, IA
$516
Difference
$78.44
less
Healthcare
↑ 11.0%
Topeka, KS
$673
Sioux City, IA
$748
Difference
$74.18
more
Housing
↓ 2.2%
Topeka, KS
$2,080
Sioux City, IA
$2,035
Difference
$45.36
less
Other
↓ 1.2%
Topeka, KS
$1,765
Sioux City, IA
$1,744
Difference
$20.50
less
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Topeka, KS
$1,053
Sioux City, IA
$1,041
Difference
$11.54
less
Transportation
↑ 0.0%
Topeka, KS
$1,335
Sioux City, IA
$1,335
Difference
$0.23
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$790
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$850
To$910
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,135
↑ $45.00
3 Bed
From$1,440
To$1,365
↓ $75.00
Topeka, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$1,230/mo

Sioux City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$1,000/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Topeka, KS
$7,419
Monthly in Sioux City, IA
$81.43
Difference

Home Values

Topeka
Sioux City
$151K
Median Value
$179K
↓ -1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +2%
↑ +43%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.7%
$63K - $374K
Price Range
$126K - $243K

Homes in Sioux City are 19% more expensive than Topeka

Calculate payment - TopekaCalculate payment - Sioux City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$190
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.5%
Rate difference

Topeka, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Sioux City, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Topeka, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Sioux City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Topeka
Sioux City
46 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
63.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Topeka, KS to Sioux City, IA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Sioux City, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Topeka, KS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Topeka to Sioux City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Sioux City, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Topeka, KS vs Sioux City, IA

How do the cost estimates for Topeka, KS and Sioux City, IA compare?

Sioux City, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% lower than Topeka, KS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Topeka, KS, the model estimates $149,023 in Sioux City, IA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Topeka, KS and Sioux City, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Topeka, KS and $1,135/month in Sioux City, IA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kansas and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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