City Comparison
Sioux City vs Des Moines
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sioux City
Des Moines
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
12% lower than in Des Moines.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sioux City's average rent is
18% lower than Des Moines's.
| Metric | Sioux City | Des Moines | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,162 | -18% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $90 | +22% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,082 | -12% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 81 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Des Moines offers 14% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Des Moines delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sioux City is estimated at
$45,000 vs $55,000 in Des Moines.
| Metric | Sioux City | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,636 idx | 80,247 idx |
| Household Income | $62,500 | $47,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Sioux City runs warmer on average — a 51.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 280 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Sioux City sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sioux City | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sioux City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Des Moines.
Sioux City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sioux City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sioux City | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 17.90 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Des Moines is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Sioux City.
From a growth perspective, Sioux City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sioux City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sioux City | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 85,797 | 209,232 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | — |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sioux City
Advantages
Median home prices in Sioux City are significantly lower than the national average per the U.S. Census Bureau.
Average commute times are under 18 minutes, well below the U.S. national average per BLS data.
A thriving healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne and UnityPoint Health provides robust medical services.
Abundant outdoor recreation including over 50 public parks and extensive Missouri River trail systems.
Strong local higher education institutions like Morningside University and Briar Cliff University.
Drawbacks
Winter temperatures can be harsh, with average winter lows dropping to 13.8°F per Open-Meteo climate data.
Limited public transit options require high car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Average household incomes trail behind top-tier national metropolitan benchmarks.
Limited direct commercial air travel options at Sioux Gateway Airport necessitate driving to larger hubs like Omaha.
Pockets of the urban core face ongoing economic revitalization and property crime challenges.
Des Moines
Advantages
The Des Moines metropolitan area is experiencing population growth, with an estimated 573,000 residents in 2025, a 1.24% increase from the previous year.
The cost of living in Des Moines is generally lower than the U.S. average.
The average commute time in West Des Moines is just 18 minutes, indicating efficient transportation.
The housing market saw a 0.9% increase in home prices over the three months ending May 2026, with a median price of $217,000.
Des Moines is a major business hub with growing job markets in insurance, finance, and healthcare.
Drawbacks
The city proper of Des Moines has experienced a population decline of approximately -0.55% annually since 2020.
Healthcare costs in Des Moines are higher than the national average.
Summers in Des Moines are hot and humid, with muggy conditions increasing throughout the season.
The median household income in Des Moines ($47,000) is lower than the Iowa state average ($52,000).
The Des Moines housing market, while showing recent price increases, experienced a slight decline in median sale prices in 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sioux City
#173Iowa, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
Des Moines
#234Iowa, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,162
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
81
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
74
Business
75
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