Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,591 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Sioux Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $662/mo less ($965 vs $1,627)
Homes cost $168k less ($250,000 vs $417,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.3%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $3,591/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$3,591
$75,376 vs $71,785/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$168k less
$250,000 vs $417,600
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 8 and Sioux Falls wins 12. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $250,000 median home), income ($75,376 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.