City Comparison
Tea vs Sioux Falls
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Tea scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Tea
Sioux Falls
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Tea is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in Sioux Falls.
| Metric | Tea | Sioux Falls | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,350 | $1,327 | +2% |
| Groceries | $410 | $400 | +3% |
| Utilities | $170 | $248 | -31% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,275 | $2,345 | -3% |
| Cost Index | 96 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Tea offers 7% higher 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 Tea is estimated at
$52,000 vs $61,000 in Sioux Falls.
| Metric | Tea | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $64,000 | $60,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 68,182 idx |
| Household Income | $88,500 | $75,970 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Tea runs warmer on average — a 49.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Tea comes out ahead with 269 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Tea sees 22.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Tea | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 49.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 81.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 10.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 29.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 22.10 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 269 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Tea scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tea leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Tea | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 34.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux Falls is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Tea 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 | Tea | Sioux Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,500 | 224,676 |
| Pop. Growth | 4.50% | 2.30% |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.40% | 2.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Tea
Advantages
Exceptional public safety with crime rates well below the national average per US Census and FBI reporting data
No state personal income tax in South Dakota, maximizing take-home pay
Rapid population and economic growth providing strong real estate appreciation opportunities per Zillow market trends
Proximity to Sioux Falls offering major employment centers and premier healthcare systems within a 15-minute drive
Highly rated local school district (Tea Area School District) known for strong academic and athletic programs
Drawbacks
High car dependency due to limited public transportation options within the city limits
Rigorous winter weather featuring sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall events
Limited local entertainment and nightlife options within Tea proper, requiring trips to Sioux Falls
Rapidly rising home prices and rental rates driven by intense regional housing demand
Flat terrain with limited natural geographic variety or forested landscapes
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.
Tea
#4South Dakota, USA
78.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$64,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
269/yr
Avg Temp
49.30°F
Pop. Growth
4.50%
Unemployment
2.40%
Livability
80
Business
75
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
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