CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Sioux Falls, SD Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableSD
Sioux Falls
90.6
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Sioux Falls is slightly cheaper than Chattanooga — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $79,200 in Sioux Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+1.3%
Chattanooga
76.6
Sioux Falls
77.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Chattanooga
96
Sioux Falls
95.5
🚗 Transportation3.6%
Chattanooga
100.1
Sioux Falls
96.5
🏥 Healthcare3.5%
Chattanooga
90.5
Sioux Falls
87.3
Utilities+8.8%
Chattanooga
74.2
Sioux Falls
80.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Chattanooga to see what you'd need to earn in Sioux Falls to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux Falls, SD
$79,200
$800 less needed in Sioux Falls

Formula: salary × (90.6 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9902. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Home Price
$329,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,225
Housing Index
77.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.4×

Sioux Falls has 1.3% higher housing costs compared to Chattanooga.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Household Income
$76,200
Per Capita Income
$43,400
Unemployment Rate
2%
Population
192,517
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareRetailManufacturingAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Sioux Falls, SD
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.