City Comparison
South Sioux City vs Alliance
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
South Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
South Sioux City
Alliance
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Alliance is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
12% lower than in South Sioux City.
Housing costs are a major driver: South Sioux City's average rent is
52% higher than Alliance's.
| Metric | South Sioux City | Alliance | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $983 | $647 | +52% |
| Groceries | $380 | $450 | -16% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $1,873 | $1,647 | +14% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Alliance offers 17% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Alliance delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in South Sioux City is estimated at
$42,000 vs $55,000 in Alliance.
| Metric | South Sioux City | Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $65,160 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,364 idx | 72,400 idx |
| Household Income | $68,223 | $65,160 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
South Sioux City runs warmer on average — a 51.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, South Sioux City comes out ahead with 280 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — South Sioux City sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | South Sioux City | Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 13.80°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 31.50 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
South Sioux City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, South Sioux City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | South Sioux City | Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 12 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 14.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
South Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Alliance.
From a growth perspective, South Sioux City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, South Sioux City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | South Sioux City | Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,043 | 8,075 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | — |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
South Sioux City
Advantages
Average monthly rent of $983 is roughly 41% lower than the national average per Zillow market data
Average commute time of 12.2 minutes is less than half the national norm per U.S. Census data
Median property value of $174,700 provides exceptional homeownership accessibility per Census figures
Thriving multicultural community offering diverse cultural events and authentic local cuisine
Proximity to the tri-state metropolitan economic zone expands employment and entertainment options
Drawbacks
Per capita and median household incomes lag behind national averages
High reliance on automobile transportation with limited public transit infrastructure
Susceptibility to cold Midwestern winter weather extremes with significant snowfall
Poverty rate of 12.2% slightly challenges localized socioeconomic mobility
Limited high-end retail and specialized entertainment options directly within city limits
Alliance
Advantages
Cost of living is 9% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 30% lower.
Violent crime rate is significantly lower than the national average, with 0 reported murders in 2024.
High homeownership rate of 75.2%.
Short average commute time of 10.6 minutes.
The Health Care & Social Assistance sector is a major employer in the city.
Drawbacks
Population has been declining slightly in recent years.
Walkability and transit scores are very low, indicating high car dependency.
Limited retail options within the city, requiring travel to nearby Scottsbluff for more extensive shopping.
The overall climate risk is rated as 'Relatively High'.
Drug activity is noted as a concern within the community.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
South Sioux City
#91Nebraska, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$983
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
75
Business
69
Alliance
#193Nebraska, USA
64.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$647
Avg Salary
$65,160
Cost Index
90
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
14.0/100
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
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