City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Sioux Falls, SD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Des Moines, IA are 1.2% higher than in Sioux Falls, SD. Someone earning $100,000 in Sioux Falls, SD would need about $101,200 in Des Moines, IA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA versus $986 in Sioux Falls, SD. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Des Moines, IA and 15% in Sioux Falls, SD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Des Moines, IA than in Sioux Falls, SD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.8% moving from Des Moines, IA to Sioux Falls, SD ($107,301 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
- Sioux Falls, SD: price level 90.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Sioux Falls, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 90.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,833 in Sioux Falls | $101,181 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $986/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $0 (SD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $47,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Sioux Falls, SD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Sioux Falls, SD-MN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 77.6 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 80.7 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 91.9 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 90.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Sioux Falls, SD
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
72 Strong offer
Sioux Falls, SD → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Sioux Falls, SD is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Sioux Falls, SD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Sioux Falls, SD | Real change, Des Moines → Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $61,722 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $74,678 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $89,508 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $106,437 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $125,776 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $50,040 | $50,631 (−17.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $101,040 | $102,233 (−19.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $80,920 | $81,875 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $75,350 | $76,240 (−3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.