CostIndexUSA

Sioux Falls, SD vs Winston-Salem, 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
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Sioux Falls is slightly cheaper than Winston-Salem — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sioux Falls, you would need $81,200 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.0%
Sioux Falls
77.6
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries+1.2%
Sioux Falls
95.5
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation+6.8%
Sioux Falls
96.5
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+6.9%
Sioux Falls
87.3
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+9.5%
Sioux Falls
80.7
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 90.6) = salary × 1.0155. 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×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Sioux Falls has 8.0% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

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

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.