Is Sioux Falls cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Sioux Falls is $1,156 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 45% cheaper. Median household income is $71,785 in Sioux Falls compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Sioux Falls or Denver?

Sioux Falls is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 137 in Denver — 32% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Sioux Falls or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Sioux Falls and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Sioux Falls, SD vs Denver, CO

Sioux Falls, SD versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,156 a month in Sioux Falls and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $71,785 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Sioux Falls takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is rent, where Sioux Falls leads by 45% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Sioux Falls can feel further apart than Sioux Falls and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Sioux Falls and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Sioux Falls report Full Denver report

Sioux Falls, SD

Rent: $1,156/mo
Median income: $71,785
Crime index: 93
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

45% cheaper

Sioux Falls rent is 45% cheaper than Denver

Sioux Falls

Winner

$1,156/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Sioux Falls versus $2,089 in Denver, so Sioux Falls is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $933/month back in your pocket — $11,196/year. Over five years that's $55,980 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Sioux Falls is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

20% higher

Denver's median income is 20% higher than Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

$71,785

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $71,785 in Sioux Falls, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Denver — about $14,068 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Sioux Falls can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

32% lower crime

Sioux Falls's crime index is 32% lower than Denver

Sioux Falls

Winner

93 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Sioux Falls's crime index is 93 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Sioux Falls. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Sioux Falls is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Sioux Falls and Denver are about even on school scores.

Sioux Falls

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Sioux Falls, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Sioux Falls weather is 33% more comfortable than Denver

Sioux Falls

Winner

73°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Sioux Falls scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in Sioux Falls and 82°F in Denver. Sioux Falls reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Sioux Falls is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Sioux Falls

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Sioux Falls is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Sioux Falls if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Sioux Falls if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 33%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Sioux Falls is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Sioux Falls is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Denver (93 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Sioux Falls report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Sioux Falls vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Sioux Falls is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Sioux Falls offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Sioux Falls vs Denver FAQ

Is Sioux Falls cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Sioux Falls is $1,156 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 45% cheaper. Median household income is $71,785 in Sioux Falls compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Sioux Falls or Denver?: Sioux Falls is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 137 in Denver — 32% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Sioux Falls or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Sioux Falls and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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