City Comparison
Dubuque vs Sioux City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Dubuque scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Dubuque
Sioux City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Dubuque | Sioux City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $950 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $220 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $1,835 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 89 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Dubuque offers 4% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Dubuque delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Dubuque is estimated at
$48,000 vs $45,000 in Sioux City.
| Metric | Dubuque | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $56,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,169 idx | 63,636 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $62,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1°F of each other.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 19 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Sioux City sees 0.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Dubuque | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.40°F | 51.40°F |
| Summer High | 81.40°F | 83.00°F |
| Winter Low | 14.30°F | 13.80°F |
| Rainfall | 32.70 in | 31.50 in |
| Snowfall | 21.70 in | 21.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 | 280 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
| Metric | Dubuque | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Dubuque.
From a growth perspective, Dubuque is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Dubuque | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,384 | 85,797 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dubuque
Advantages
Median home prices in Dubuque remain significantly more affordable than the national average per the National Association of Realtors.
Exceptional outdoor recreation access, highlighted by the 1,439-acre Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.
Robust regional healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne Dubuque and UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital.
Consistently lower violent and property crime rates compared to national benchmarks per FBI crime data.
Vibrant historic downtown and Port of Dubuque district offering diverse dining, arts, and cultural attractions.
Drawbacks
Cold and snowy winter conditions can create challenging commuting and outdoor circumstances.
Limited commercial flight options directly out of Dubuque Regional Airport require travel to larger hubs like Chicago or Cedar Rapids.
Public transit options outside of core fixed bus routes are somewhat limited for suburban commuters.
Wages in certain sectors may lag behind fast-growing coastal metropolitan markets.
Limited racial and ethnic diversity compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Dubuque
#112Iowa, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
76
Business
70
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
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