Sioux City, IA vs Grand Forks, ND: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Grand Forks, ND and Sioux City, IA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Sioux City works out to about $75,200 in Grand Forks, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.1% higher in Grand Forks, goods 1.7% higher and other services 1.4% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,132 a month in Grand Forks and $1,295 in Sioux City, $1,956 a year less in Grand Forks (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $283,000 in Grand Forks and $224,000 in Sioux City.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Grand Forks was 1.9% more expensive than Sioux City.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Sioux City and Grand Forks
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.5 | 86.7 |
| Goods | 94.0 | 95.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 57.8 | 59.7 |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 77.1 |
| Other services | 92.7 | 91.4 |
| Category | Sioux City | Grand Forks | Grand Forks vs Sioux City |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.5 | 86.7 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 95.6 | +1.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 57.8 | 59.7 | +3.1% |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 77.1 | −6.8% |
| Other services | 92.7 | 91.4 | −1.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,295 | $1,132 | −12.6% |
| Typical home value | $224,000 | $283,000 | +26.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Sioux City | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Sioux City and Grand Forks has narrowed since 2008: 4.1 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.5 | 95.6 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 92.3 |
| 2010 | 92.3 | 93.3 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 92.1 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 89.7 |
| 2013 | 90.9 | 93.8 |
| 2014 | 90.3 | 92.1 |
| 2015 | 89.7 | 93.3 |
| 2016 | 90.2 | 92.2 |
| 2017 | 89.7 | 91.1 |
| 2018 | 91.5 | 91.7 |
| 2019 | 92.4 | 94.1 |
| 2020 | 90.5 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 90.2 | 90.0 |
| 2022 | 87.7 | 86.8 |
| 2023 | 88.2 | 85.9 |
| 2024 | 86.5 | 86.7 |
Goods
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.8 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 95.9 | 97.4 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 96.3 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.8 | 97.4 |
| 2014 | 98.1 | 98.9 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 97.7 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 93.7 |
| 2019 | 97.3 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 93.5 | 94.2 |
| 2023 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 94.0 | 95.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 65.6 | 79.3 |
| 2009 | 62.9 | 67.7 |
| 2010 | 72.4 | 73.9 |
| 2011 | 70.0 | 74.0 |
| 2012 | 70.5 | 60.3 |
| 2013 | 64.2 | 77.7 |
| 2014 | 63.4 | 68.1 |
| 2015 | 64.0 | 82.2 |
| 2016 | 65.5 | 75.6 |
| 2017 | 65.5 | 73.4 |
| 2018 | 67.5 | 75.7 |
| 2019 | 71.7 | 83.7 |
| 2020 | 65.0 | 71.6 |
| 2021 | 65.2 | 67.8 |
| 2022 | 63.2 | 58.8 |
| 2023 | 62.5 | 57.6 |
| 2024 | 57.8 | 59.7 |
Utilities
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.8 | 83.1 |
| 2009 | 90.5 | 81.7 |
| 2010 | 87.5 | 82.1 |
| 2011 | 88.7 | 84.2 |
| 2012 | 88.5 | 83.4 |
| 2013 | 88.2 | 82.9 |
| 2014 | 82.9 | 78.9 |
| 2015 | 82.2 | 79.1 |
| 2016 | 80.7 | 77.5 |
| 2017 | 87.5 | 82.6 |
| 2018 | 96.1 | 89.5 |
| 2019 | 96.7 | 88.6 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 88.6 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 91.1 |
| 2022 | 96.1 | 86.5 |
| 2023 | 85.7 | 78.0 |
| 2024 | 82.7 | 77.1 |
Other services
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 98.7 |
| 2011 | 94.7 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 94.0 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 94.8 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 96.0 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 96.7 | 96.1 |
| 2021 | 95.5 | 95.0 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 92.0 | 89.9 |
| 2024 | 92.7 | 91.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,132 in Grand Forks vs $1,295 in Sioux City
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $807 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $808 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $803 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $803 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $783 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $810 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $816 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $800 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $818 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $834 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $831 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $834 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $821 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $848 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $854 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $861 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $862 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $868 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $892 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $908 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,078 | $907 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,078 | $913 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,150 | $931 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,163 | $945 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,137 | $936 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,151 | $967 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,174 | $990 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,209 | $1,012 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,224 | $1,012 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,230 | $1,036 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,248 | $1,056 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,238 | $1,091 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,256 | $1,081 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,279 | $1,115 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,257 | $1,137 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,295 | $1,132 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $283,000 in Grand Forks vs $224,000 in Sioux City
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Sioux City, IA
- Grand Forks, ND
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Sioux City, IA | Grand Forks, ND | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $117K | $184K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $120K | $187K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $122K | $192K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $124K | $194K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $126K | $198K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $127K | $201K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $129K | $202K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $131K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $133K | $202K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $134K | $203K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $136K | $205K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $137K | $204K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $139K | $205K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $140K | $205K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $143K | $206K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $144K | $205K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $147K | $206K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $150K | $207K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $151K | $208K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $155K | $209K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $156K | $209K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $157K | $210K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $162K | $213K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $166K | $218K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $170K | $219K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $175K | $222K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $178K | $227K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $182K | $231K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $188K | $235K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $194K | $240K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $196K | $242K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $197K | $241K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $197K | $239K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $203K | $243K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $205K | $245K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $205K | $243K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $207K | $245K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $210K | $248K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $210K | $250K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $213K | $254K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $215K | $258K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $215K | $260K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $217K | $264K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $219K | $269K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $222K | $275K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $224K | $279K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $224K | $283K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.