Fargo vs Sioux Falls
Fargo, ND · Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls is 2% cheaper than Fargo overall.
Home Price
Fargo: $290,000
Sioux: $310,000
Monthly Rent
Fargo: $1,073/mo
Sioux: $865/mo
COL Index
Fargo: 93
Sioux: 91
Median Income
Fargo: $67,200
Sioux: $64,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Fargo has the same purchasing power as $97,849 in Sioux Falls — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Sioux Falls are 7% cheaper (-$20,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Sioux Falls saves you $208/month — $2,496 per year. Median rent: $1,073/mo in Fargo vs $865/mo in Sioux Falls.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Fargo owners pay roughly $2,900/year in property taxes vs $3,720/year in Sioux Falls. That's a $820 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,200 in Fargo and $64,200 in Sioux Falls. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 17 minutes in Fargo vs 18 minutes in Sioux Falls. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Fargo to Sioux Falls, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Fargo | Equivalent in Sioux Falls | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,925 | -$1,075 |
| $75,000 | $73,387 | -$1,613 |
| $100,000 | $97,849 | -$2,151 |
| $150,000 | $146,774 | -$3,226 |
| $200,000 | $195,699 | -$4,301 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Fargo vs Sioux Falls: Common Questions
Is Fargo or Sioux Falls cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Sioux Falls is cheaper overall. Fargo has a COL index of 93 while Sioux Falls scores 91 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Fargo and Sioux Falls?
The median home price in Fargo is $290,000 vs $310,000 in Sioux Falls — a difference of $20,000 (7%).
What salary do I need in Sioux Falls to match my Fargo income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Fargo is equivalent to $97,849 in Sioux Falls in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Fargo has a lower property tax rate (1% vs 1.2%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,900/year vs $3,720/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.