City Comparison
Sioux City vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sioux City
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
25% lower than in Cincinnati.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sioux City's average rent is
33% lower than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Sioux City | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,410 | -33% |
| Groceries | $380 | $493 | -23% |
| Utilities | $175 | $178 | -2% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,451 | -25% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cincinnati offers 29% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.
| Metric | Sioux City | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,636 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $62,500 | $52,909 |
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 | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sioux City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Cincinnati.
Sioux City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cincinnati leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sioux City | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Sioux City.
From a growth perspective, Cincinnati is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Sioux City | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 85,797 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| 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.
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
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
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
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