City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Sioux Falls, SD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 8.0% higher than in Sioux Falls, SD. Someone earning $100,000 in Sioux Falls, SD would need about $108,000 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $986 in Sioux Falls, SD. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 15% in Sioux Falls, SD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Sioux Falls, SD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Sioux Falls, SD ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.4% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Sioux Falls, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 90.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,615 in Sioux Falls | $107,974 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $986/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $0 (SD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Sioux Falls, SD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Sioux Falls, SD-MN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 77.6 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 80.7 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 91.9 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 90.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Sioux Falls, SD
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
94 Strong offer
Sioux Falls, SD → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Sioux Falls, SD is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Sioux Falls, SD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Sioux Falls, SD | Real change, Richmond → Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +3.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +3.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +3.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +3.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +3.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $50,040 | $54,030 (−11.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $101,040 | $109,097 (−17.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $80,920 | $87,373 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $75,350 | $81,358 (−13.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.