City Comparison
Pierre vs Sioux Falls
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux Falls scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Pierre
Sioux Falls
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Pierre is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
22% lower than in Sioux Falls.
Housing costs are a major driver: Pierre's average rent is
28% lower than Sioux Falls's.
| Metric | Pierre | Sioux Falls | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,327 | -28% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $248 | -29% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,345 | -22% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sioux Falls offers 3% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sioux Falls delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Pierre is estimated at
$48,000 vs $61,000 in Sioux Falls.
| Metric | Pierre | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $60,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,043 idx | 68,182 idx |
| Household Income | $67,000 | $75,970 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Pierre runs warmer on average — a 50.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Pierre comes out ahead with 286 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Pierre sees 16.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Pierre | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 12.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 27.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 16.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Pierre has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Sioux Falls.
Pierre scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Pierre leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Pierre | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 12 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 34.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux Falls is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Pierre.
From a growth perspective, Sioux Falls is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sioux Falls has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Pierre | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,000 | 224,676 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 2.30% |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 2.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Pierre
Advantages
State capital status provides exceptionally stable public sector and government employment opportunities.
Crime rates in Pierre are significantly lower than the national average, ensuring high community safety.
World-class hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are available directly along the Missouri River and Lake Oahe.
Housing affordability remains favorable compared to the national average and major coastal metropolitan markets.
Minimal traffic congestion leads to exceptionally short and stress-free daily commute times.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs can limit specialized shopping and entertainment choices.
Extreme winter weather conditions with cold temperatures and snowfall require careful preparation.
Limited public transportation infrastructure makes personal vehicle ownership essentially mandatory.
Commercial flight options at the local airport can be limited and more expensive than larger regional hubs.
Limited local industry diversification outside of government, healthcare, and retail sectors.
Sioux Falls
Advantages
Violent crime per capita reached a five-year low in 2025, and property crime decreased by 26% from 2024 to 2025.
The cost of living in Sioux Falls is approximately 12.5% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 24.1% cheaper.
Sioux Falls was ranked the third-least-stressed city in America for 2025.
The unemployment rate in Sioux Falls was 2.00% in June 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Sanford USD Medical Center was ranked the #1 hospital in South Dakota for 2024-2025 and recognized among the World's Best Hospitals.
Drawbacks
Despite overall crime decreases, the city's safety grade was D in 2024, with a violent crime rate of 526.7 per 100K residents.
The city has minimal public transportation options and a low walkability score of 38, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Healthcare costs are slightly higher than the national average, at 3.9% more.
While overall job growth is strong, the Sioux Falls area gained an average of only 50 jobs per month in 2025, which was the lowest since 2025 (excluding pandemic years).
Average home care costs are high, with in-home support listed at $8,389 per month in 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Pierre
#97South Dakota, USA
67.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
50.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
68
Sioux Falls
#27South Dakota, USA
72.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,327
Avg Salary
$60,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
34.0/100
Walkability
38.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.30%
Unemployment
2.00%
Livability
82
Business
80
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Pierre and Sioux Falls.
Open Cost Calculator