CostIndexUSA

Sioux Falls, SD vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSD
Sioux Falls
90.6
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Sioux Falls is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 6.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sioux Falls, you would need $85,100 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.1%
Sioux Falls
77.6
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries+1.2%
Sioux Falls
95.5
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+6.8%
Sioux Falls
96.5
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+6.9%
Sioux Falls
87.3
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+8.9%
Sioux Falls
80.7
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$85,100
$5,100 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 90.6) = salary × 1.0640. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sioux Falls, SD

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 20.1% higher housing costs compared to Sioux Falls.

Income & Job Market

Sioux Falls, SD

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

81% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.