Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 25°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($965 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Homes cost $55k less ($250,000 vs $304,500)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
2% lower
526.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$55k less
$250,000 vs $304,500
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Sioux Falls wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $250,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Sioux Falls, SD are about 474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.